[LINK] EU votes down ACTA

[Jan Whitaker]

EU parliament rejects anti-piracy treaty

Published: July 4, 2012 - 9:39PM

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly defeated the international 
ACTA anti-piracy agreement, after fears that it would limit internet 
freedom mobilised broad opposition across Europe.

The vote on Wednesday was 39 in favour, 478 against, with 165 abstentions.

A spokesman for the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said 
it may try again after it obtains a court ruling on whether the 
agreement violates fundamental EU rights.

Supporters said ACTA - the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - was 
needed to standardise international laws that protect intellectual 
property rights.

Opponents feared it would lead to censorship and a loss of privacy on 
the internet.

This story was found at: 
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/eu-parliament-rejects-antipiracy-treaty-20120704-21hpf.html 




Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

_ __________________ _