Germany Halts Progress Of ACTA Bill
While the attempt by several big-money companies in America to pass the controversial SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) bill has fallen flat in recent weeks, a similar version drafted by the European Union (EU) for multi-national legislation against online piracy is facing a similar level of dissatisfaction across its planned area, and while governments have been growing in support for the move of ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement), the plans have been delayed by Germany’s concerns on the matter, having made the decision to postpone their signing of the agreement to allow for further review.
ACTA is looking to bring in an internationally-recognised model on ‘intellectual property rights enforcement’ (including ‘counterfeit goods’, ‘generic medicine’, and ‘online copyright infringement’) and while it was signed last month by 22 of the EU’s 27 member states, Germany are amongst the 5 that have delayed their confirmation process, alongside Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, while Cyprus, Estonia, and Holland have not yet signed for other reasons. Non-EU nations which have been an integral part of the process (drafting and signing) include USA, Canada, Japan, Morocco, Australia, and New Zealand.
The citizens of nations that have signed up to the bill, however, are not best pleased, with the weekend witnessing protests amongst the continent-wide cold weather in Sofia (Bulgaria), Paris (France), London (England), Vilnius (Lithuania), Prague (Czech Republic), and Warsaw (Poland), amongst several others. Numerous websites across Europe (most notably in Poland and Slovenia) have been hacked as a further form of protest.
While European Parliment is not due to discuss ACTA for ratification until June, Internet users across Europe are still worried that it could lead to unfair arrests based on fairly trivial ‘crimes’ such as downloading a pirated movie. Numerous politicians have also noted the impact it could have on online freedom of speech and activity, with Lithuanian Justice Minister Remigijus Simasius adressing readers of his blog: “I don’t know where it [ACTA] comes from and how it originated, but I don’t like that this treaty was signed skillfully avoiding discussions in the European Union and Lithuania.”
His complaints, though, were nothing compared to the actions of French MEP Kader Arif (who’s country signed the bill) resigned last month from his role as rapporteur of ACTA, stating: ”Everyone knows ACTA is problematic, whether it is its impact on civil liberties, the way it makes internet access providers liable, its consequences on generic drugs manufacturing, or how little protection it gives to our geographical indications. This agreement may have a major impact on the lives of our citizens, and yet everything is done so that the European parliament has no say. I will not participate in this charade.”
In a very similar situation to SOPA, it seems as though everyone except from a few big-money corporations want ACTA to be passed. Will it get there, or is a mass of European people power set to stand in the way?
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