ACTA: the European Parliament stands against repressive measures for IPR enforcement

Brussels, 4 July 2012- The European Internet Services Providers Association (EuroISPA) welcomes the European Parliament’s decision calling for a more balanced protection of fundamental rights in international negotiations.

July 2012. EuroISPA and its members welcome the European Parliament’s decision to call for a more balanced approach in the protection of the fundamental rights at stake when the EU negotiates international treaties. The European Parliament found that the intended benefits of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) were far outweighed by the potential threats to civil liberties and the legal uncertainties about the role of Internet Service Providers in enforcing intellectual property rights.

“EuroISPA believes any international agreement should be negotiated openly, involving all the different stakeholders with the aim of promoting the legal certainties needed by the European Internet industry to develop and compete internationally”, said Malcolm Hutty, President of EuroISPA.

EuroISPA welcomes the growing reflection in Europe that repressive measures are not the right way forward and calls on the EU to support the development of the Digital Single Market as a primary focus. The role of the EU in international negotiations should indeed be to foster the potential economic of the Internet to create jobs and growth, while preserving fundamental rights for citizens and businesses.