[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] EU Commission Kicks Off Campaign to Defeat ACTA

Thu Jun 30 22:41:25 CEST 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 9:38 PM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] EU Commission Kicks Off Campaign to Defeat ACTA
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net

La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-commission-kicks-off-campaign-to-defeat-acta

EU Commission Kicks Off Campaign to Defeat ACTA

*** Paris, June 30th, 2011 – The European Commission adopted proposals for
the ratification of ACTA, the anti-counterfeiting agreement. This opens the
door to concerted citizen action in defeating ACTA, as it will be voted upon
by both the European Parliament and national Parliaments. Among the many
texts and policies that try to pave the way for the private censorship of
the Internet, ACTA symbolizes the worse circumvention of democracy by a few
narrow interests. Democracy must fight back. ***

After having adopted the two proposals for the signing [1] and adoption [2]
of ACTA, the Commission transmitted both proposals to the EU Council of
Ministers, who will soon adopt them as well. Member States will ask their
national Parliaments across the 27 Member States to vote on the text, which
will then be put to the vote before the EU Parliament [3].

This secretly-negotiated agreement – far from being limited to trade policy
– would impose new criminal sanctions to signatories that are both
ill-defined and extremely large in scope. These sanctions would apply even
to not-for-profit infringements of copyright, patents or trademarks [4].

In the digital environment, its entry into force could result in the
development of extra-judicial modes of copyright enforcement. Under the
guise of “cooperation”, ACTA would actually violate the right to a fair
trial and harm Net neutrality and freedom of expression [5]. This strategy
was once again reaffirmed by the European Commission copyright strategy [6]
and the G8 summit [7] last month, and just yesterday by the OECD principles
on Internet policy-making [8].

The ratification process opens the door to the mobilisation of EU citizens,
corporations and NGOs, to work together in defeating this totally
undemocratic agreement, bound to harm freedoms and innovation across the
world.

“The time is now! This is a historic battle in the "war on sharing" that we
cannot afford to lose. Every citizen who cares for a free Internet, the
protection of fundamental freedoms and democracy must participate in
defeating ACTA. European and national members of Parliament must follow the
example of their Mexican counterparts, and reject ACTA. All democratic means
should be used to defeat this massive circumvention of democracy attacking
our freedoms to protect a few obsolete industries.”, says Jérémie
Zimmermann, spokesperson for La Quadrature du Net.

* Références *

1.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/servlet/driver?typ=Advanced&cmsid=639&fc=REGAISEN&srm=25&md=100&lang=EN&ff_DOCKEY=ST12190/11ORI&rc=1&nr=1&page=Detail

2.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/servlet/driver?lang=EN&ssf=DATE_DOCUMENT+DESC&fc=REGAISEN&srm=25&md=400&typ=Simple&cmsid=638&ff_COTE_DOCUMENT=&ff_TITRE=conclusion+agreement+korea&ff_FT_TEXT=&ff_SOUS_COTE_MATIERE=&dd_DATE_REUNION=&rc=1&nr=25&page=Detail

3. Further analysis of the two proposals of the ratification of ACTA will
follow.

4. See our analysis of ACTA, and in particular of the abusive definition of
“commercial scale”:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/acta-updated-analysis-of-the-final-version

5. See our analysis of ACTA's worst provisions:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/acta-updated-analysis-of-the-final-versionSee
in particular article 27.3: Each Party shall endeavour to promote
cooperative efforts within the business community to effectively address
trademark and copyright or related rights infringement while preserving
legitimate competition and, consistent with that Party’s law, preserving
fundamental principles such as freedom of expression, fair process, and
privacy.

6.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-commission-sticks-to-flawed-copyright-repression

7. G8 Declaration – Renewed Commitment to Freedom and Democracy, of May
30th, 2011:
“With regard to the protection of intellectual property, in particular
copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and patents, we recognize the need to
have national laws and frameworks for improved enforcement. We are thus
renewing our commitment to ensuring effective action against violations of
intellectual property rights in the digital arena, including action that
addresses present and future infringements. We recognize that the effective
implementation of intellectual property rules requires suitable
international cooperation of relevant stakeholders, including with the
private sector.” Address:
http://www.g20-g8.com/g8-g20/g8/english/live/news/renewed-commitment-for-freedom-and-democracy.1314.html

8.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/copyright-interests-force-private-censorship-into-oecd-communique

** About la Quadrature du Net **

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs
including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and
Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net

** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room

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