[p2p-research] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] Gallo report adopted: A stab in the back of citizens' freedoms

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] Gallo report adopted: A stab in the back of
citizens' freedoms
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net


La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/gallo-report-adopted-a-stab-in-the-back-of-citizen-freedoms


Gallo report adopted: A stab in the back of citizens' freedoms



*** Strasbourg, Sept. 22nd 2010 - The European Parliament has just adopted
the Gallo report on copyright enforcement by 328 to 245 votes. This very
repressive text is one more step in the entertainment industries' crusade
against their own public. The Members of the Parliament have failed to
recognize that the measures called for in this non-legislative text
profoundly undermine fundamental freedoms [1]. For the next steps, citizens
must remain on their guard and should continue to inform their elected
representatives about the lies of the industry, and the importance of the
Internet for the future of our societies. ***

In the end, the lobbying from the entertainment industries proved extremely
powerful, as demonstrated by the nefarious influence of a few members of the
ALDE group who helped rejecting alternative approaches and thereby paved the
way for a call to ruthless enforcement [2]. Baseless studies [3] and letters
signed by dead or unknown movie producers, fake signatures [4], or 7 years
old singers were used among other deceptive techniques to get this vote,
against the general interest of EU citizens.

"The Gallo report is an illustration of the will of the entertainment
industry to try to impose private copyright police and justice of the Net
[5]. Repressive schemes such as the "three strikes" policies and other
Internet access restrictions --typified by the French HADOPI or the UK
Digital Economy laws-- negate fundamental rights, such as the right to a
fair trial, the freedom of communication or the right to privacy. So far,
they have turned out to be a political and technical failure. Even if it is
encouraged by the European Commission and the draft ACTA agreement, giving
investigation, evidence collection and sanction powers to private actors is
not tolerable in democracies abiding by the rule of Law." analyses Jérémie
Zimmermann, spokesperson of the citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net.

"EU citizens must remain watchful and continue their essential work of
informing their elected representatives about the crucial role that a free
Internet plays for the future of our societies and an expanded creative
economy. Only through civic engagement and democracy can the lies of the
entertainment industries be rejected as such. Soon, elected representatives
across Europe will realize that the crusade of these industries against
their own public undermines the founding values of our democracies, and that
it should be stopped by all means." concludes Zimmermann.

La Quadrature du Net warmly thanks all the committed citizens who
participated in this great effort.



* Références *


1. For an overview of the dangers of the Gallo report, see La Quadrature du
Net's memo:
http://www.laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20100919_Gallo_and_A...

2. For more details on the political maneuver of the ALDE group, see:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-liberals-join-sarkozysts-in-online-rep...

3. The Tera/BASCAP studies about supposed job loss in EU due to "piracy",
used as the main argument by pro-Gallo lobbies, are completely partial and
bogus. See the Social Science Research Council's comments ont the
methodology:
http://blogs.ssrc.org/datadrip/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Piracy-and-Job...
According to the serious SSRC, the BASCAP methodology is flawed and negates
all the positive aspects, while dramatizing and inflating the figures.
BASCAP's co-chair is Jean-René Fourtou, chairman of the supervisory board of
Vivendi-Universal (one of the strongest lobbyists for more repressive IPR in
EU).

4. See
http://www.numerama.com/magazine/16850-rapport-gallo-la-petition-des-rea...
(in French)

5. The Gallo report calls for private copyright police, whereby enforcement
would be achieved through extra-legislative and extra-judicial measures,
upon accusation by the rights-holders and with the cooperation of the
Internet Service Providers


** 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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