Dutch Whac-A-Mole Game Against The Pirate Bay Apparently Works Better Without Due Process

ACTA Closer To Death: Remaining EU Supporters Contemplate Rejecting It

from the nearly-there dept

Mon, Apr 16th 2012 3:46pm — Glyn Moody

Last week we saw the Socialists and Democrats, the second-largest bloc in the European Parliament, turn against ACTA. Combined with the stated position of the Green party there, that means ACTA is closer to being thrown out when the vote for ratification takes place in Brussels this summer.

The deciding factor is how politicians in the centre-right coalition of Liberals and Conservatives will vote, and there are now signs that they too are contemplating rejection, according to this article in taz.de (German original):

Word from Conservative circles is that the treaty won't be defended tooth and nail if the other parties are against it.

One of the key centre-right members in the European Parliament, Daniel Caspary, said that the relevant EU committees must be given enough time to make their reports before the final vote, but added, significantly: "If we reject ACTA, we should tell the European Commission exactly why, and present them with alternative proposals."
The fact that even the centre-right parties are now seriously thinking about rejecting ACTA, and what to do next, means that while ACTA may not be dead in Europe yet, it is looking increasingly moribund.

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Filed Under: acta, eu parliament, european union

14 Comments

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Rottweiler, 16 Apr 2012 @ 4:09pm

But... but... piracy!
Hehe, I would like to know what the trolls/shills and IP maximalists are thinking now.

I bet that MAFIAA plutocrats are now in a dark room, furiously masturbating each other on top of a pile of money and cocaine, raging about how the internet is a bad thing and must be controlled or else terrorists win.

ACTA probably is going down, CISPA and TTP is the next big threat.
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Jay (profile), 16 Apr 2012 @ 4:27pm

Re: But... but... piracy!
I don't think CISPA will actually make it...

Right before the elections, they're pissing off the populace. And it's mostly Republican based legislation. So people are truly going to vote these people out and we're left with Democrats with a majority.

Sure, I'm overgeneralizing, but the Republicans vouching for CISPA is going to come back to bite them.

TTP is the new threat that's going to be much tougher. By the time it comes out, it may be too late to change and you can't threaten the president with not signing that treaty. I wouldn't be surprised if it comes out next year after everyone has died down and shown that these bills are not well liked.
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TtfnJohn (profile), 16 Apr 2012 @ 5:23pm

It all reminds me of
That old English joke, modified appropraitely "ACTA is dead but it won't lay down".

Yet. :-)
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Apr 2012 @ 5:27pm

Re: But... but... piracy!
"Hehe, I would like to know what the trolls/shills and IP maximalists are thinking now. "

There's a clue in the article... They'll call it something else

"If we reject ACTA, we should tell the European Commission exactly why, and present them with alternative proposals."
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gorehound (profile), 16 Apr 2012 @ 6:19pm

Re: But... but... piracy!
Yes our own Government is on a Roll.And all the Sheep continue to give MAFIAA Money when thery should be saving it for INDIE.
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BeeAitch (profile), 16 Apr 2012 @ 8:41pm

Re: Re: But... but... piracy!
Exactly my thought when reading that last line.
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The Moondoggie, 17 Apr 2012 @ 12:20am

Re: Re: Re: But... but... piracy!
They'll call it ACTA 2.0
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Alex Macfie, 17 Apr 2012 @ 1:05am

Separate groups
The conservatives (EPP) and liberals (ALDE) are separate groups in the European Parliament, not a "centre-right coalition". ALDE tends to vote with the EPP on economic issue, and with the S&D and Greens on social issues. In the last vote on ACTA (the symbolic vote in Autumn 2010), most of ALDE voted with the centre-left parties to oppose ACTA.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Apr 2012 @ 2:19am

my concerns are what will be put in place of ACTA, how much worse will it be and why is anything like it needed anyway? if there are concerns over counterfeit medicines, deal with that issue. stop keep using god knows what as excuses to try to preserve the US movie industries!
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Rottweiler, 17 Apr 2012 @ 2:42am

Re:
We already know what they will try next; TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) treaty.
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Drew (profile), 17 Apr 2012 @ 3:49am

I love the rewrite to these things.

First draft!
Spying on you!
Censoring your work!

Second draft!
Censoring your work!
Spying on you!
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Apr 2012 @ 6:34am

Re: Separate groups
ALDE was virtually 50/50 on earlier votes and I do not think it was the point of "center-right" necessarily. EPP was almost 100% pro commission/industry. Along with ENC, (brittish conservatives and other rebels) EPP only needs a few traitors to get a majority. As far as I can see center-right is as opposed to the nationalists and far right party EFD who very vocally and actively has opposed ACTA all the way.
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gracie, 14 Jun 2012 @ 6:13am

Re:Drew
"I love the rewrite to these things.

First draft!
Spying on you!
Censoring your work!

Second draft!
Censoring your work!
Spying on you!"

What the heck?!

jogging stroller reviews
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joyce, 11 Jul 2012 @ 7:59pm

...
don't think there any hope for the ACTA in Europe anymore.

best handheld vacuum
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