EU countries sign unpopular anti-counterfeit treaty

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Series Details 27.1.12
Publication Date 27/01/2012
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The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) was formally signed in Tokyo on the 26 January 2012. The European Commission and 22 of the EU Member States took part in the signing ceremony, with the other Member States expected to soon.

The aim of the ACTA agreement - between the EU, the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland - is to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including online, and to help combat counterfeiting and piracy of goods including luxury brand clothing, music and films.

The treaty still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament before it can be enacted. A debate was scheduled to take place in June 2012.

A few hundred demonstrators protested against the controversial ACTA agreement in Poland on the 26-27 January 2012.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/9/115043
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement... http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-conclusion-of-the-anti-counterfeiting-trade-agreement-between-the-european-union-and-its-member-states-australia-canada-japan-the-republic-of-korea-the-unit/
European Commission: DG Trade: Creating opportunities: Trade topics: Intellectual property: Anti-counterfeiting: ACTA http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/trade-topics/intellectual-property/anti-counterfeiting/
Wikipedia: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement
BBC News, 27.1.12: European Parliament rapporteur quits in Acta protest http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16757142
BBC News, 26.1.12: Thousands march in Poland over Acta internet treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16735219
Polskie Radio, 27.1.12: Warsaw demonstrators protest ACTA http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/84576,Warsaw-demonstrators-protest-ACTA
European Parliament: Headlines, 26.1.12: ACTA - EP's role http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20120127STO36430/html/ACTA-EP%27s-role

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