We’ve previously reported on the ACTA treaty which is being negotiated in secret among the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, and a number of other governments. This treaty, which often looks a lot more like a copyright treaty than a counterfeit-goods treaty, could have profound implications for many ordinary Internet users (including e-book readers), such as imposing a “three-strikes” provision that would cut off Internet access to accused infringers.
Now an overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted, 663 to 13, for a resolution criticising the Treaty and saying that the MEPs will go the the EU Court of Justice if the European Commission does not reject the rules that allow the cutting off of users from the internet if caught downloading copyrighted material. The Parliament’s consent is necessary to conclude the Treaty on behalf of the EU. The MEPs argue that the Treaty flouts agreed EU laws on piracy online.
