EU Passes Nasty IP Law

FireBreathingDog writes "This BBC report details a new European Union law that 'allows companies to raid homes, seize property and ask courts to freeze bank accounts to protect trademarks or intellectual property they believe are being abused or stolen.'" Like any bit of controversial legislation, it can change massively just before being voted upon. This legislation, which originally had DMCA-like provisions (protections for technical protection measures on copyrighted works), seems to have lost them prior to passage. (I'm sure they'll be back in some new piece of legislation.) However, it does make "regular" copyright enforcement much more aggressive in the EU, with companies able to raid, confiscate and freeze the bank accounts of those accused of copyright infringement. More information: IP Justice, FFII, FFII background.

Comments

Re:In the US we shoot intruders

[Anonymous Coward]

And personally I'm very happy to live in a country where you cannot KILL anybody just because he is standing in a wrong place or to protect what you own.

I think a right to kill for protecting property is absolutely disgusting.

Price of a human life in USA is WAY too low.

Re:Very American Indeed....

[tomknight]

Oops, my mistake. Apologies. I must be lacking in laugh today, I'll try harder tomorrow.