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| = Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive = | = European Commission exceeds competence with criminal measures on infringements of "intellectual property" rights = The European Commission has proposed [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en a directive to criminalise infringements of "intellectual property rights"] ("IP-rights"), such as patents, copyright and trade marks. The stated aim is to combat "piracy". While massive infringements on for instance copyright are indeed a problem, the directive itself is a bigger problem. Due to very weak definitions, the directive does not only criminalises pirates, but also companies that are not pirates. And even people who share files on the internet, on a not for profit basis, can be treated as organised criminals. You better watch what your kids our doing with your computer. Should severe infringements of "IP-rights" go unpunished? Will Europe become a pirate continent without the directive? No, in all European countries copyright piracy and trade mark counterfeiting are already forbidden. Unlike the directive, these national laws are carefully balanced. Also, companies can go to civil courts to get damages, which is more rewarding than getting infringers in jail. With its weak definitions, the directive distorts carefully balanced national procedural law systems. |
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| In 2004 the Council and European Parliament adopted an Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED). To make fast adoption possible (before 10 new members joined the EU), criminal penalties were taken out. Now these criminal penalties are back in 2 new European Commission proposals. Often these are referred to as IPRED 2. The official names are: | Interestingly enough, it is the first time the European Union proposes criminal measures, without the member states having a veto. The first question to be asked is whether we want this. Should we want a Union with a democratic deficit to write our criminal laws? Our answer is no, we believe only countries have enough legitimacy to make criminal laws. Does the Community have the competence to make this directive? The Dutch Parliament [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredNlParl060629En unanimously decided the Commission exceeds it competence] with this directive. The Commission made a severe faute passe in a sensitive field. The proposal should meet a flat rejection. In April 2006 the European Commission [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en announced the directive.] |
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| Proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights |
[http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st08/st08866.en06.pdf The new text] (Change "en" twice in the link for translations) |
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| Proposal for a COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION to strengthen the criminal law framework to combat intellectual property offences |
The directive is an amended version, [http://www.ipred.org/history see the History] == == == |
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| == No Justification == | Full name: Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights |
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| The proposals lack proper justification, the justification given is just one A4 page long. There is no need for the proposals, piracy is already prohibited in European countries. In some cases, penalties go up a 100 times. There is no indication at all that this is needed. For instance, in the Netherlands, no prosecution has taken place for violation of trade names for over 50 years. Why then a 100 times more severe penalty? The subsidiarity principle is violated. | [http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st08/st08866.en06.pdf The new text] (Change "en" twice in the link for translations) |
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| TRIPS already lays down severe provisions on means of enforcing trade-related intellectual property rights. These include the implementation of criminal procedures and criminal penalties. In no way the Commission makes clear these are not enough. |
[http://tinyurl.com/9djqm EU docs] |
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| In 2004 the Council and European Parliament adopted the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED). It is being implemented at the moment. Effects are not clear yet, it is unknown whether further measures are needed. | [http://www.ipred.org/2005 the 2005 proposals] |
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| == Neutrality of police investigation == | 2005 : COM(2005)276 final / 2005/0127(COD) / 2005/0128(CNS) |
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| Right-holders can help the police to draw conclusions. There goes neutrality of police investigation. (framework art 4, see also the explanatory memorandum on this article) == Legality == People are entitled to know what is forbidden. But with "intellectual property" rights it is often unclear. For instance patents often do not survive a civil court case. So, in the end no right was violated. As far as the Commission is concerned prosecution can start, while it may turn out there was no right that could be violated. This is not about whether person A committed crime X, but whether crime X is a crime after all, or not. That has to be known before person A acts. With many IP-rights, it is not known. Legality is missing totally. The outcome of civil patent cases is unpredictable. A lotery. This is unacceptable with criminal cases. Software and business methods are excluded from patentability, but only "as such". "As such" has been regarded as unclear for 30 years. The meaning has been shifting. It is impossible to base criminal sancties on such unclear laws. With trade names, if companies act locally and there is enough distance, it is no problem and no violation to have the same name. So, having the same name is no problem or can get you a four years sentence - as far as the Commission is concerned. A lotery. Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
Minister Donner (NL) [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredDonner060428En was not pleased.] |
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| [http://www.ipred.org/Hilty Hilty:] 4 basic elements [http://wiki.ffii.org/Ipred2GovLtrsEn FFII: Call on the 25 Governments to remove criminal sanctions in case of patent infringement] [http://wiki.ffii.org/JuriHearing060131En Hearing 31st Jan. 2006] [http://www.ffii.org/~ante/FFII-ipred051127.pdf FFII letter Nov 27th] [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredEp051122En European Parliament hearing 22 November 2005] |
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| [http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0276en01.pdf 2005 Commission proposal] | |
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| Reinier Bakels made a presentation for SANE. You can download it in: | |
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| ---------------------------------- | * ISO Open Document Format attachment:RBB060517.odp * PDF attachment:RBB060517.pdf * PowerPoint (please [http://www.openoffice.org download OpenOffice] and use ISO Open Document Format) attachment:RBB060517.ppt * OpenOffice.org 1 attachment:RBB060517.sxi [http://www.aippi.org/reports/resolutions/Q169_E.pdf AIPPI paper] |
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| Interesting starting points: * RecentChanges: see where people are currently working * WikiSandBox: feel free to change this page and experiment with editing * FindPage: search or browse the database in various ways * SyntaxReference: quick access to wiki syntax * SiteNavigation: get an overview over this site and what it contains |
---------- [http://www.ipred.org/ipred1 IPRED 1] (2004) |
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| ---------- [http://europa.eu.int/servlet/portail/RenderServlet?search=DocNumber&lg=en&nb_docs=25&domain=Legislation&coll=&in_force=NO&an_doc=2003&nu_doc=1383&type_doc=Regulation Customs regulation] |
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| == How to use this site == Note: To prevent spammers from spamming the wiki, you need be logged in to edit pages. If you don't have an account yet, just go to "Login" and create an account. A Wiki is a collaborative site, anyone can contribute and share: * Edit any page by pressing '''[[GetText(Edit)]]''' at the top or the bottom of the page * Create a link to another page with joined capitalized words (like WikiSandBox) or with {{{["quoted words in brackets"]}}} * Search for page titles or text within pages using the search box at the top of any page * See HelpForBeginners to get you going, HelpContents for all help pages. To learn more about what a WikiWikiWeb is, read about MoinMoin:WhyWikiWorks and the MoinMoin:WikiNature. Also, consult the MoinMoin:WikiWikiWebFaq. This wiki is powered by MoinMoin. |
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European Commission exceeds competence with criminal measures on infringements of "intellectual property" rights
The European Commission has proposed [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en a directive to criminalise infringements of "intellectual property rights"] ("IP-rights"), such as patents, copyright and trade marks. The stated aim is to combat "piracy". While massive infringements on for instance copyright are indeed a problem, the directive itself is a bigger problem. Due to very weak definitions, the directive does not only criminalises pirates, but also companies that are not pirates. And even people who share files on the internet, on a not for profit basis, can be treated as organised criminals. You better watch what your kids our doing with your computer.
Should severe infringements of "IP-rights" go unpunished? Will Europe become a pirate continent without the directive? No, in all European countries copyright piracy and trade mark counterfeiting are already forbidden. Unlike the directive, these national laws are carefully balanced. Also, companies can go to civil courts to get damages, which is more rewarding than getting infringers in jail.
With its weak definitions, the directive distorts carefully balanced national procedural law systems.
Interestingly enough, it is the first time the European Union proposes criminal measures, without the member states having a veto. The first question to be asked is whether we want this. Should we want a Union with a democratic deficit to write our criminal laws? Our answer is no, we believe only countries have enough legitimacy to make criminal laws.
Does the Community have the competence to make this directive? The Dutch Parliament [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredNlParl060629En unanimously decided the Commission exceeds it competence] with this directive.
The Commission made a severe faute passe in a sensitive field. The proposal should meet a flat rejection.
In April 2006 the European Commission [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en announced the directive.]
[http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st08/st08866.en06.pdf The new text] (Change "en" twice in the link for translations)
The directive is an amended version, [http://www.ipred.org/history see the History]
==
Full name: Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights
[http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st08/st08866.en06.pdf The new text] (Change "en" twice in the link for translations)
[http://tinyurl.com/9djqm EU docs]
[http://www.ipred.org/2005 the 2005 proposals]
2005 : COM(2005)276 final / 2005/0127(COD) / 2005/0128(CNS)
Minister Donner (NL) [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredDonner060428En was not pleased.]
[http://www.ipred.org/Hilty Hilty:] 4 basic elements
[http://wiki.ffii.org/Ipred2GovLtrsEn FFII: Call on the 25 Governments to remove criminal sanctions in case of patent infringement]
[http://wiki.ffii.org/JuriHearing060131En Hearing 31st Jan. 2006]
[http://www.ffii.org/~ante/FFII-ipred051127.pdf FFII letter Nov 27th]
[http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredEp051122En European Parliament hearing 22 November 2005]
[http://www.ipred.org/nl NL: Gevangenisstraf voor octrooiinbreuk]
[http://wiki.ffii.org/Ipred2En FFII]
[http://plone.ffii.org/Members/coordinator/FFII%20UK%20IPRED2%20consultation.pdf/download FFIII-UK]
[http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/ipred2/ipred2.en.html FSFE]
[http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0276en01.pdf 2005 Commission proposal]
Reinier Bakels made a presentation for SANE. You can download it in:
- ISO Open Document Format attachment:RBB060517.odp
- PDF attachment:RBB060517.pdf
PowerPoint (please [http://www.openoffice.org download OpenOffice] and use ISO Open Document Format) attachment:RBB060517.ppt
OpenOffice.org 1 attachment:RBB060517.sxi
[http://www.aippi.org/reports/resolutions/Q169_E.pdf AIPPI paper]
[http://www.ipred.org/ipred1 IPRED 1] (2004)
[http://europa.eu.int/servlet/portail/RenderServlet?search=DocNumber&lg=en&nb_docs=25&domain=Legislation&coll=&in_force=NO&an_doc=2003&nu_doc=1383&type_doc=Regulation Customs regulation]