Public Knowledge

ACTA is the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement being negotiated by the US, the EU, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. The stated goal of the agreement is the international enforcement of strong intellectual property rights through increased cooperation and coordination among international governmental agencies. ACTA does not yet exist, though its ongoing discussions are confirmed by all of the participating governments.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains two sections that deal with broadband. These sections are designed to expand broadband penetration across the country. There are a number of ways that the bill intends to accomplish this goal.

Net Neutrality is the shorthand term for the concept that companies which operate a telecommunications network, like the telephone and cable companies, shouldn’t be able to play favorites with the content that goes over the network.

Open access (OA) literature is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.