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The European Parliament has voted to reject the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta).The proposed agreement sought to curb piracy, but internet campaigners said it posed a threat to online freedoms.The rejection vote followed a failed attempt to postpone the decision because of ongoing investigations into Acta by the European Court of Justice.Euro MP David Martin said: "It's time to give [Acta] its last rites."Twenty two EU member states, including the UK, had signed the Acta treaty - but it had not been formally ratified.Outside the EU, the treaty also had the support of the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.However, following significant protests, several countries chose not to back the treaty.Wednesday's vote is seen by most observers as the final blow to the treaty in its current form. It means no member states will be able to join the agreement.A total of 478 MEPs voted against the deal, with 39 in favour. There were 165 abstentions. What is Acta?The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is an international treaty aiming to standardise copyright protection measures.It seeks to curb trade of counterfeit physical goods, including copyrighted material online.Preventive measures include possible imprisonment and fines.Critics argue that it will stifle freedom of expression on the internet, and it has been likened to the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa).Acta had been signed by 22 EU members, including the UK, but has now been rejected by the European Parliament. The treaty had been heavily criticised in the months leading up to the vote'Hello democracy' EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said work into tackling piracy would continue. "Today's rejection does not change the fact that the European Commission has committed itself to seeking answers to the questions raised by the European public," he said."The European Commission will continue to seek the legal opinion of the European Court of Justice on whether this agreement harms any of the fundamental rights of European citizens - including freedom of speech. "European citizens have raised these concerns and now they have the right to receive answers. We must respect that right."As the decision was made, some of those in attendance held banners reading: "Hello democracy, goodbye Acta".The UK's Pirate Party had campaigned against Acta since details of the treaty were first made public.In a statement, leader Loz Kaye said he was pleased that politicians "listened to the millions" of people who had sent messages in protest."The European Parliament vote is a triumph of democracy over special interests and shady back-room deals," Mr Kaye said."Without this opposition, our representatives would have waved this agreement through. It is now clear that it is becoming increasingly politically poisonous to be 'anti-internet'."
Outside the EU, the treaty also had the support of the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.
