Adopted by the YEPP Council in Budapest, February 2012.
Presented by Junge Union (Germany), ONNED (Greece) and YFG (Ireland).
Recognizing:
The multilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) proposes international standards for enforcement of intellectual property rights.
ACTA, negotiated by a handful of countries (Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States) in coordination with certain parts of industry, is controversial in both process and substance.
The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act proposed by the United States Congress in January 2011 caused widespread protests, both online and offline. The legislation has since been delayed.
These Acts, as proposed, could have serious consequences for websites hosted within the European Union, particularly for websites with any aspect of user generated content.
Online piracy is a serious issue that must be tackled, however given the potential consequences on freedom of speech and legal information exchange, any action taken must be proportionate to it’s aims.
Acknowledging:
The right to Internet is an an enabler of other rights under the ECHR including the right to freedom of expression, the right to access information and the right to family and private life.
Online innovation and information exchange has played a significant role in the creation of the internal market, particularly in allowing small and medium enterprises to develop across borders. Continue reading
