0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Formally adopts the Gallo report which calls for a Europe-wide legislative framework to deal with online piracy, including not only measures to enforce intellectual property rights, but also to figure out ways for “helping creators earn a living and disseminating their works.”Just when you think the European Parliament had finally come to its senses in the battle over illegal file-sharing it manages to surprise everyone with a stunning act of regression.Earlier this month it voiced its objection to the secretive ongoing Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations by adopting Written Declaration 12. Most noteworthy among its text is the expressed “view that the proposed agreement should not indirectly impose harmonization of EU copyright, patent or trademark law, and that the principle of subsidiarity should be respected.”Also of concern is any attempt towards “limitations upon judicial due process or weaken fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and the right to privacy.”However, sadly enough all of these noble ideals apparently exist in vacuum for it recently adopted the non-legislative Gallo Report that could arguably make all these fears come true.The Report on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property in the Internal Market (i.e Gallo Report) proposes the introduction of legislation that would lay down a framework for a harmonized Europe-wide effort to fight intellectual property infringement.It call for a “comprehensive IPR strategy addressing all aspects of IPRs, including their enforcement as well as their promotion, in particular the role of copyright as an enabler and not an obstacle, helping creators earn a living and disseminating their works.”It does stress that any measures must respect a number of European charters relating to fundamental rights and protections, but as we all know, Internet connections would not be protected from overzealous copyright holders.The whole plan is a thinly veiled stab at online piracy, nothing more and nothing less, and at least its author, Marielle Gallo, had the gumption to admit as much after the vote.“Online piracy is an infringement of copyright and causes serious economic damage to artists, to creative industries and to all those whose jobs depend on these industries,” he said.Exactly. The report lumps together non-commercial online piracy with the commercial counterfeiting of physical goods.The music industry is, of course, quite pleased with the vote.“Today the Parliament sent a clear signal to the European Commission, and beyond, that a stronger, more coordinated approach is needed to promote and protect the rights of creative industries in Europe. This is a timely and welcome message,” says Frances Moore, CEO of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. “Piracy is a major threat to jobs in Europe and it is a direct obstacle to legitimate enterprise in the music, book, film and other sectors. The Parliament has recognised that governments cannot stand by in the face of this threat. We applaud the Rapporteur, Marielle Gallo, and the Parliament for taking this stand.”While Gallo insists the report “does not foresee a European ‘Hadopi’ law”, critics warn it creates an opportunity to implement a “three-strikes” to deal with illegal file-sharers, especially if the signatories believe online piracy is as bad a problem as the report says that it is.“The Gallo report is an illustration of the will of the entertainment industry to try to impose private copyright police and justice of the Net,” said Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesman for online civil liberties pressure group La Quadrature du Net, in reaction to the parliament’s decision.
