Jean Lambert MEP says drop ACTA before if closes down the net

Could you be prosecuted for posting a link.  Well thats what the European Union plans with ACTA.

Big corporations are keen to enclose the world wide web and politicians are putty in their hands.

However the European Greens are fighting hard in the EU parliament to stop this.

The Pirate Party MEPs are also part of the European Parliamentary Green groups...this makes me very happy.

Good for them and good for Jean!

Controversial anti-counterfeiting agreement must be dropped, Green MEP  demands

Green MEP for London, Jean Lambert, has reacted with dismay at the  signing of a controversial agreement by the EU and 22 of its Member  States which could potentially impinge the freedom of electronic  communication and innovation worldwide.

 The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was created with the aim of  establishing international standards on intellectual property rights  enforcement, yet will deal with tools targeting internet distribution  and information technology, meaning people could be prosecuted for > merely sharing a link to a newspaper article or posting a video on YouTube.

 The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament have criticised the 
 decision to proceed with the signing, highlighting persistent concerns 
 about the legality of the deal and its compatibility with EU provisions 
 on fundamental rights [1]. The agreement will now be handed down for 
 ratification by Member States and the European Parliament.

Commenting on the agreement, Jean, a member of the European Parliament 
Civil Liberties Committee, said: “The Greens in the European Parliament 
 remain absolutely committed to ensuring that this so-called ‘agreement’ 
 is not adopted at the expense of the rights of citizens – ACTA is a 
 threat to our civil liberties and must be rejected. As the European 
 Parliament and national parliaments now have their say as part of the 
 ratification process, the Greens will push to ensure that ACTA is 
 consigned to history.”

Notes to Editor



 The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament have criticised the  decision to proceed with the signing, highlighting persistent concerns  about the legality of the deal and its compatibility with EU provisions  on fundamental rights [1]. The agreement will now be handed down for  ratification by Member States and the European Parliament.
Commenting on the agreement, Jean, a member of the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, said: “The Greens in the European Parliament  remain absolutely committed to ensuring that this so-called ‘agreement’  is not adopted at the expense of the rights of citizens – ACTA is a  threat to our civil liberties and must be rejected. As the European  Parliament and national parliaments now have their say as part of the  ratification process, the Greens will push to ensure that ACTA is  consigned to history.”
Notes to Editor
1. Critics have raised serious doubts about the compatibility of ACTA with EU law, particularly provisions on fundamental rights. For example, ACTA encourages its signatory states to step up co-operation with private actors, such as internet providers, for intellectual property enforcement in the absence of any minimum standards for legal procedures. This opens the door to undermining the basic rights of individuals with no protection for those affected. Experts have also pointed out that ACTA could undermine access to medicines, particularly in developing countries, which are more independent on generics but were not even part of the negotiations.