EU About To Consider Stringent Anti-Sharing Law

chrestomanci writes " The Register have just posted a news item about the EU IP Rights Enforcement Bill. Theres is an editorial about the issue in PC Magazine. The bill if passed would give intellectual property holders draconian powers to enforce their IP against infringers. The powers available include sending rent-a-cops to private homes, seizing assets, freezing bank accounts, and confiscating and ISP's equipment on suspicion. Any of these powers could be used against a 12-year-old file sharer, as easily as against a large scale commercial piracy operation The bill has been proposed by the French MEP Janelly Fourtou, whose husband is the the head of Vivendi Universal. She has placed the bill on a 'First Reading' track that does not allow debate, and is normally reserved for bills with near unanimous support. The deadline for amendments is today. If you are a European citizen it is time to write to your Member of the European Parliament. The final vote will be between the 8th and 11th March." (We mentioned this a few weeks ago, too.)

Comments

OH MY GOD!

[gazbo]

Any of these powers could be used against a 12-year-old file sharer

Won't somebody please think of the children? This is exactly why we have exemptions in the law for children who murder and steal, as they should be protected. The little darlings.

danger! danger!

[hookedup]

"confiscating and ISP's equipment on suspicion"

I can see this being a real problem to any isp with a newsgroup server.

Re:The big advantage to the EU passing this law no

[Earlybird]

acceptance of Internet is much slower than it is in the US.

Ahem. Are you quite sure about that? And just to drive the point home: Are you quite sure about that?

I am guessing you don't live in Europe. I am constantly amused by Americans who think Europe is this backwater continent which is not quite up to date with respect to the rest of the world. It may have been true 50 years old. It's no longer the case.

Re:Ummm, NO

[Anonymous Coward]

When the standard-issue starts kicking in my door, without a PROPER search warrant, executed and issued by a JUDGE, is when I start considering violence, and start shooting back.

The issue here is that a "proper" search warrant could now be issued by a music label. Scary.

Re:The big advantage to the EU passing this law no

[cyborch]

I would have modded you wrong. Sadly there is no "wrong" mod so I'm replying in stead...

Please tell me where you have your information. How is internet acceptance much slower in EU than in US? 81% of the danish population have internet access at home according to Dansk Statistik.

War

[ka9dgx]

Its rapidly coming to a head, the fact is the corporate interests have declared war on the public. We the people lost the US, and now they want to make it official, and worldwide.

For the most blatent example, see the "free market" sell off of the assets of Iraq, completed before its people get a chance to react.

--Mike--

Re:Welcome to the United States of Europe...

[Idealius]

Seeing as file sharing allows millions to avoid paying for commercial music, software, movies, etc. I would say that this is more of an economic issue than social or political.

Re:Ummm, NO

[a whoabot]

You would actually get into a gunfight with police officers? I'm not saying you have a wrong stance, but, would you actually try to battle guys who you know would win? Maybe you could kill the two who had come originally, but after you've killed two cops is when they bring in the swat team and you're gonna die. It's cool to die by your principles, but would you?

I guess maybe there is a very small chance that while your noble struggle goes on, your neighbours may see and just decide they want to help, and perhaps this could snowball and create a proletariat revolution, but I really don't think so. It's definitely better to get arrested, and then create a better strategy for the revolution.

Re:Ummm, NO

[Phillup]

I'm not saying you have a wrong stance, but, would you actually try to battle guys who you know would win?

OK... I know you didn't intend this... but...

This kind of thinking, being totally subservient to "authority" figures... is one of the reasons that three airplanes made it to their intended target.

And, the government response has been to make Americans even more subservient by standing in long lines, taking their shoes off and bending over... for the real screwing. (and yes, I know that it is totally off topic... and the OP wasn't anything about America... but this particular thread of it is.)

The real solution is to constantly question and push back at "authority". That is the only way you are going to avoid being taken somewhere you don't want to go.

It's definitely better to get arrested, and then create a better strategy for the revolution.

See, I think the real lesson that every American should have learned from 9/11 (and applied to every part of life) is this:

Fight. Right now. You may never get another chance.