| Author (Person) | Cienski, Jan, Pignal, Stanley |
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| Series Title | Financial Times |
| Series Details | 10.2.12 |
| Publication Date | 10/02/2012 |
| Content Type | News |
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Reports in February 2012 suggest that the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which campaigners fear would restrict internet freedom looked likely to be delayed or scrapped, the latest in a string of measures planned to combat online piracy to falter in the face of co-ordinated protests. The fight against ACTA had centred on Europe, even though the US, Australia, Japan and seven others are participants alongside the European Union’s 27 governments. Though ACTA had already been signed or initialled by all EU governments, it required ratification by all 27 national parliaments as well as the European Parliament. That process looked to have been derailed by the anti-ACTA activists, particularly in central and eastern Europe. In addition, the Party of European Socialists (PES) adopted a text on the 9 February 2012 which condemned the democratic shortcomings of the ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) and warned against its potential threat to the fundamental rights of the citizens. The text calls the agreement 'wrong in both content and process'. Germany refused on the 10 February 2012 to sign the ACTA treaty. The German government had already agreed in principle, but appeared to be wavering in the face of public protest. Thousands of people took part in co-ordinated protests across Europe on the 11 February 2012 in opposition to the ACTA treaty. |
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| Subject Categories | Internal Markets, Trade |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
