And they are protesting Poland’s signing onto the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA):

Poland on Thursday signed an international copyright agreement, sparking more demonstrations by Internet users who have protested for days over fear it will lead to online censorship.

After the signing, protesters rallied in the Polish cities of Poznan and Lublin to express their anger over the treaty. Lawmakers for the left-wing Palikot’s Movement wore masks in parliament to show their dissatisfaction, while the largest opposition party — the right-wing Law and Justice party — called for a referendum on the matter.

Controversy in Poland has been deepening over the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA. Though many other industrialized countries have signed it, popular outrage appears to be greater in Poland than anywhere else.

This is actually significant.

It’s been growing slowly, but the almost universal consensus about the ability of IP holders to rent seek is now showing cracks, as more and more people start to see it as a drain upon society, rather than a benefit.

We are seeing this in the media, where we are seeing increasing coverage of patent trolls like Nathan Myhrvold.  (Here’s hoping that his f%$#ing cookbook is followed by people protesting his ass)

With a little bit of luck, we may eventually see the worm turn on all of this, and see the protections on IP seen through the lens of public benefit, and not the interest of the rentiers.