EU Commissioner Asks Big Copyright To Increase Their Lobbying Efforts For More Draconian Copyright Law

from the of-course-he-does dept

Tue, Sep 20th 2011 1:56am — Mike Masnick

EU Commissioner Karel de Gucht has been the EU's main supporter behind ACTA. de Gucht was caught lying about ACTA last year to get it approved (telling EU members that ACTA fit under existing laws, and only later admitting some members might have to change their laws). He also refused to turn over some important documents requested by an EU Parliament member concerning ACTA, claiming that (contrary to what the law says) as long as he answered questions, he didn't have to turn over the documents.

So it probably comes as little surprise that, in a recent speech about intellectual property issues in Europe, he directly appealed to copyright holders to increase their lobbying, because those darn critics of stronger copyright apparently are speaking up too much:

I would like to call upon you to support our efforts to improve and implement IPR regimes in a more active manner. The European Commission defends your interests by promoting the development of effective IP systems, within the EU and also in third countries. However, we are increasingly faced with loud voices that come out against IP for many different reasons, often unfounded. We need you to help us to help you by enlarging the debate.

This is pretty funny. The debate has been totally and completely owned by those in favor of stricter, more draconian copyright law -- contrary to almost all evidence on the best levels of intellectual property rules and enforcement. The critics simply don't get heard at all.

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Filed Under: copyright, eu, karel de gucht, lobbying

13 Comments

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jimbo, 20 Sep 2011 @ 2:14am

he is not in the position he holds to simply do whatever he can to encourage or get implemented laws that favour any individual industry. he is there to do what is best for all. being so openly 'entertainment industry' oriented, he should be forced to face some sort of disciplinary committee or actually lose his job! especially after lying to the commission previously over ACTA and refusing to 'turn over requested documents'. his affairs need checking too, because he surely can't be going down this road without receiving some sort of 'incentive' from 'concerned parties' to do so!
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- The eejit (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 2:50am
  
  Re:
  I would argue that he should never have got the position in the first place. People like de Gucht are the reason why the EU Commission is so reviled amongst all member states.
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Richard (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 2:54am

Scared
We may not theink we are having much impact - but this shows that they are actually scared.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Sep 2011 @ 3:33am

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/
http://opensource.com/life/11/9/talk-digital-pirate-or-fight-agains t-them-talk-pirate-day

They should be scared very scared, since I have to see any pirate giving up his/hers wicked ways.

Now I need to go rip some more :)
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Sep 2011 @ 3:40am

I may be a tad insane, but why everytime i see that kind of people i just want to put a bullet through their heads...?

Guess i played too many zombie shooter lately, but wow those guys sure look the part !

I mean the rotting brain part... oh and the smell too !
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Sep 2011 @ 4:17am

while some developing countries do face important challenges in putting in place appropriate IP regimes and will need time and assistance I do not subscribe to the view that weak IP protection in developing countries is inherently in their interest, as these regimes should also enable them to leverage the value of their own intangible assets, such as local culture and local agricultural products (which can be protected as plant varieties or as geographical indications) and to avoid them becoming a target of infringers.

I don't get that part, how is that something that is free for everyone to use it to prosper be better served by locking it away in the hands of a few?

How can one big business move more money than hundreds of thousands of business?

What happens in every single monopoly ever granted?
Not talking about the natural monopolies here, that would survive even if there were no protections because they don't depend on legal crutches but natural barriers, but about granted monopolies that strain society economically while robbing its constituents of civil rights paid for in blood.
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Thomas (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 6:01am

Interesting to see..
that it's not only politicians in the U.S. who get "gifts" from the entertainment industry. It's a shame the industry can't spend some money making their product easier to obtain legally instead of bribing politicians to block content.
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NullOp, 20 Sep 2011 @ 6:19am

Hmm....
Did you ever get the feeling someone who shouldn't be is just a "mouthpiece" for some group with an agenda?
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- The eejit (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 11:11am
  
  Re: Hmm....
  You mean like ICE?
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Killer_Tofu (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 6:25am

Constituents
Representing your constituents is so 20th century.
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The Groove Tiger (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 8:35am

"Often unfounded"? Is that an admission that many of their reasons for opposing it have merit?
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Pickle Monger (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 10:00am

Enemies?
"The debate has been totally and completely owned by those in favor of stricter, more draconian copyright law[...]"

No enemy is as powerful and as horryfying as the imaginary one.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 2:45pm

And by increase their lobbying efforts, he means write me a bigger check?
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