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| = Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive 2 = '''Makes violations of "intellectual property rights", such as patents, a crime. Makes adolescents that share files organised criminals.''' 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. These criminal penalties came back in 2005 in 2 new European Commission proposals. Following a European Court decision in an other case, they were retracted, [http://wiki.ffii.org/Com051123En for formal reasons.] 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 a new directive.] Minister Donner (NL) [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredDonner060428En was not pleased.] [http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st08/st08866.en06.pdf The new text] (Change "en" twice in the link for translations) == Main points == |
= European Commission criminalises the industry = |
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| == Scope == | |
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| Patents have to be taken out. [http://wiki.ffii.org/Ipred2GovLtrsEn FFII:] "It is in practice impossible to write and sell software products without certainty that your product does not violate one of the 65,000 software or business method patents granted by the European Patent Office." [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredEp051122En Others] protested criminalisation of patent infringement too. In general, the directive should be limited to rights of which it is proven that civil protection is not enough. |
The European Commission has proposed a directive to [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en criminalise all intentional commercial scale infringements] of "intellectual property rights" ("IP-rights"), such as patents, copyright and trade marks. Copyright "piracy" and trade mark counterfeiting are already crimes throughout the EU, the TRIPS-treaty sees to that. The Commission goes much furhter, disregarding the fact that beyond copyright "piracy" and trade mark counterfeiting, infringements of "IP-rights" are very complicated. Such infringements often occur during normal business conduct. The European Commission criminalises the industry. |
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| No criminalising of inciting and abetting beyond general rules that exist in some countries making it a crime to incite to a crime | Even companies which merely use properly licensed software are criminalised, since such use is intentional, commercial scale and can infringe on software patents. And 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. |
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| == Elements of a crime == | Criminal courts are not the right place for complicated infringements. Civil procedures are the right choice for them, and more rewarding for the right holders since they can ask for damages. |
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| Reto M. Hilty, Managing Director, Max Planck Institute for IP, Professor of Law [http://www.ipred.org/Hilty said:] | In all European countries copyright piracy and trade mark counterfeiting are already forbidden. Unlike the directive, these national laws are carefully balanced. With its weak definitions, the directive distorts carefully balanced national procedural law systems. |
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| "As a matter of fact, a harmonisation of IP criminal statutes can be justified from the point of view of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality only in connection with actions by which the following elements of a crime are fulfilled cumulatively: - Identity of the exploited object of protection (the good takes on characteristic elements of a protected product or label in a targeted and unmodified fashion – construction, assembly, etc.) - Commercial activity with an intention to earn a profit - Potential to cause considerable damage - Intent or contingent intent (dolus eventualis)" Note these are the minimal elements. They are better defined more sharp to prevent accidents. The Commission proposal does not even meet the minimal elements. |
Interestingly enough, it is the first time the European Union proposes criminal measures, without the member states having a veto. In our opinion, only countries have enough legitimacy to make criminal laws. The Dutch Parliament unanimously decided the [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredNlParl060629En Commission exceeds it competence] with this directive. |
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| == Rejection == | -------------------------------------------------- |
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| There are good grounds for rejection. The only legal ground for a directive like this, a harmonisation of criminal measures, is a distortion of trade, i.e, if the non-harmonised state leads to [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredDonner060428En a competitive advantage] of member states having lower penalties. The Commission does not even try to make that case. See also [http://www.ipred.org/Hilty Hilty] | == Conclusion and analysis == |
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| In 10 of the EU's 25 countries patent infringement is a crime. Does the fact that it is not a crime in all 25 countries lead to distortion in trade, does it give the countries in which it is not a crime a competitive advantage? Nobody has ever claimed such a thing. Patent infringement can not be criminalised. There are 10 more IP rights for which this question has to be answered. | For reasons of legitimacy and competence, the directive has to be rejected. If not rejected, scope and definitions have to be narrowed severely. |
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| If the competence issue is solved for some of the IP rights, then the 4 requirements of a crime (see above) have to be met in order to meet the subsidiarity and proportionality requirements. The Commission proposal does not meet them. | For conclusion and analysis see our [http:analysis analysis page]. |
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| Without the competence, subsidiarity and proportionality requirements met, the directive will be illegal, has to be rejected. | |
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| As far as many companies are concerned, patents have to go out - a political reason. | |
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| == == == | ------------------------------------------------------- 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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| 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 |
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| 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://www.ipred.org/Hilty Hilty:] 4 basic elements |
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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 |
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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 == 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 criminalises the industry
The European Commission has proposed a directive to [http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en criminalise all intentional commercial scale infringements] of "intellectual property rights" ("IP-rights"), such as patents, copyright and trade marks. Copyright "piracy" and trade mark counterfeiting are already crimes throughout the EU, the TRIPS-treaty sees to that. The Commission goes much furhter, disregarding the fact that beyond copyright "piracy" and trade mark counterfeiting, infringements of "IP-rights" are very complicated. Such infringements often occur during normal business conduct. The European Commission criminalises the industry.
Even companies which merely use properly licensed software are criminalised, since such use is intentional, commercial scale and can infringe on software patents. And 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.
Criminal courts are not the right place for complicated infringements. Civil procedures are the right choice for them, and more rewarding for the right holders since they can ask for damages.
In all European countries copyright piracy and trade mark counterfeiting are already forbidden. Unlike the directive, these national laws are carefully balanced. 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. In our opinion, only countries have enough legitimacy to make criminal laws. The Dutch Parliament unanimously decided the [http://wiki.ffii.org/IpredNlParl060629En Commission exceeds it competence] with this directive.
Conclusion and analysis
For reasons of legitimacy and competence, the directive has to be rejected. If not rejected, scope and definitions have to be narrowed severely.
For conclusion and analysis see our [http:analysis analysis page].
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://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]