[p2p-research] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] Deadly Copyright Repression Threatens EU. Act Now!

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] Deadly Copyright Repression Threatens EU. Act Now!
To: fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net


La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/deadly-copyright-repression-threatens-eu-act-now


Deadly Copyright Repression Threatens EU. Act Now!



*** Strasbourg, Sept. 20th 2010 - A resolution of the European Parliament
calling for more repression of file sharing will be voted upon on Wednesday.
European conservatives, led by a pro-sarkozy rapporteur and helped by a
diversion from the liberal group, are pushing for the adoption of the Gallo
report. If they succeed, blind repression and private copyright police of
the Net will become the official position of the European Parliament. Our
fundamental freedoms are at stake. In just 5 minutes, you can help rejecting
it. ***


The Gallo report, named after its French sarkozyst rapporteur, Marielle
Gallo, is a non-legislative text dictated by the entertainment industry
lobbies in their crusade against online file sharing. Based on bogus
evidence [1], it calls for disproportionate repression that could lead to
severe consequences for fundamental freedoms.

If adopted, the Gallo report will open the door for the European Commission
to come up with new repressive legislation imposing criminal sanctions. It
will also open the door to private copyright police of the Net, also
encouraged by the ACTA agreement [2], whereby Internet service providers and
entertainment industries would be allowed to circumvent the due process of
law by deciding between themselves what an infringement is and how to
sanction it.
Hidden behind the benign name of "cooperation" between right holders and
ISPs, what lies ahead in the Gallo report is de facto censorship, automatic
sanctions, and a generalized surveillance of the Net. They would impact
freedom of expression, harm privacy, bypass the judicial authority, and turn
the presumption of innocence into a fiction. The diversionary ALDE
resolution drafted by entertainment publishing lobby puppet [3] Toine
Manders serves no other purpose than to take votes away from the true
alternative resolution drafted by the S&D, Green and MEPs of several other
groups.

"The adoption of the Gallo report would pave the way to dangerous and
unacceptable repressive policies. Allowing private actors to police and
render justice by themselves is a blatant denial of the fundamental right to
a fair trial and should not be encouraged by any elected representative.
Members of the European Parliament must be reminded of the numerous past
attacks on fundamental freedoms of citizens online, when they reacted by
defending EU values rather than giving up on them [4]. Citizens are
watching." declares Jérémie Zimmermann, co-founder and spokesperson of
citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net.

All EU citizens are invited to contact all Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs) and advise them to reject the original Gallo report (as
well as the very similar alternative resolution by the ALDE group). Instead,
they should be advised to adopt the alternative resolution by the S&D,
Greens and other Members, much more balanced and open-ended, calling for
alternatives to repression.


Resources

 * Press release - EU liberals join Sarkozysts in online repression:

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-liberals-join-sarkozysts-in-online-repression
 * Press release - Red Alert on Net Freeoms - MEPs shall reject the Gallo
Report:

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/red-alert-on-net-freedoms-meps-shall-reject-the-gallo-report
 * Dedicated campaign page:
     http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Gallo_report_plenary_vote_campaign
 * Commented original Gallo report:
     https://lqdn.co-ment.com/text/Gq4N8gUR9UB/view/
 * Commented ALDE alternative resolution:
     https://lqdn.co-ment.com/text/dL4m68i9cvB/view/
 * Commented S&D+Greens+others alternative resolution:
     https://lqdn.co-ment.com/text/3udZkkPgzAS/view/




* Références *


1. Lobbying for the Gallo report was based on a "study" by TERA consultants
"demonstrating" that file-sharing would result in impressive job losses in
the European Union on the coming years. The Social Science Research Council
quickly published a document debunking TERA consultants methodology and
findings: http://www.laquadrature.net/files/Piracy and Jobs in Europe - An
SSRC Note on Methods.pdf
About 20 independant studies -including governmental and academics sources-
now show the opposite results: http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Documents

2. Article 2.18.3 of the draft leaked from the Washington DC round

3. See http://www.fep-fee.be/documents/PressreleasePiracyreport.pdf

4. See for instance a list of MEPs who voted twice for the "amendment 138"
of the Telecoms Package, guaranteeing the right to a fair trial:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/MEPs_am138_1st_2nd_readings




** About la Quadrature du Net **


La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs
including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and
Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net


** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room




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