Japan ratifies ACTA agreement

THE ODIOUS Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has been approved by the Japanese government in a vote.

The vote was due to happen earlier this week on 4 September, but was delayed until 6 September. According to reports its passage was approved during the dead of night, fittingly for ACTA.

ACTA began life in Japan last October when it was signed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco and Singapore.

According to a report at the Japanese Internet Watch website, the ACTA treaty was approved in a House of Representatives plenary session.

We've seen a rough translation of the events, but it appears that the passage was rushed through the House and could have whipped through in just four minutes.

The Japanese Pirate Party described the result of the vote as a "Crisis of democracy,", adding that "a spectre is haunting Japan".

ACTA was ratified in Japan. The crisis of democracy. Instead, a spectre is haunting JPN ー the spectre of bureaucrat autocracy. @bbcworld

— 海ぞく党 （KaizoKU.to） (@PiratePartyJP) September 6, 2012

A post on the Why We Protest website says that local citizens have already begun protesting against ACTA and have plans for more to come.

A protest march will take place on 9 September, according to that post, and will see Anonymous Japan joined by anti-ACTA campaigners in a walk through Tokyo. µ