Copyright as an Engine of Censorship

Commentators have widely discussed the tension between copyright and free speech. More recently, Frank La Rue, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, expressed concern about the use of the graduated response system to address copyright infringement. Consumer advocates and civil liberties groups have also highlighted the free speech problems in legislation (SOPA and PIPA) and international treaties (ACTA and TPP).