While Internet broadcasting is being crippled in the U.S., the same thing is happening on the world stage.

In 2006 the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) almost passed the WIPO Broadcasting Treaty, which would have restricted Internet broadcasting. It gave strong Internet rights to traditional broadcasters that distribute over the air or cable and increased liability to video web sites and home video products.

The Treaty was narrowly defeated. The organization was directed to focus it on protecting broadcast signals, not creating new rights.

A new draft has been released ... and it looks like the old one. A grassroots effort has started to protest the WIPO shell game. You can sign the petition here.