Now that all 5 committees of MEPs have rejected ACTA the likelihood is that the July 4 full plenary vote will kill it off. But now the secretive, multi-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement threatens the future of the internet’s global infrastructure.
MEPs in the INTA committee voted 19-12 in favour of David Martin MEP's opinion recommending ACTA be rejected.
There have now been 5 committees that have said that the European Parliament should reject ACTA (more information on the previous 4). But what we have behind us is not just 5 useful opinions from committees. We have 5 examples of democracy in action, giving us proof that expressing your opinions to your elected representatives can have a real and demonstrable effect. 5 reasons to keep on the same path as we turn our attention to the plenary vote on 4th July where all the MEPs will vote.
But the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will rewrite the global rules on IP enforcement. All signatory countries will be required to conform their domestic laws and policies to the provisions of the Agreement. The nine nations currently negotiating the TPP are the U.S., Australia, Peru, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. However, Canada and Mexico has also been invited to join the negotiations so it is very likely they will do so. The TPP will contain a chapter on Intellectual Property (copyright, trademarks, patents and perhaps geographical indications) that will have a broad impact on citizens’ rights, the future of the Internet’s global infrastructure, and innovation across the world.
A leaked version of the February 2011 draft U.S. TPP Intellectual Property Rights Chapter [PDF] indicates that U.S. negotiators are pushing for the adoption of copyright measures far more restrictive than currently required by international treaties, including the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
Add new comment