Revue de presse

En el Parlamento Europeo están a punto de votar una barbaridad.

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El lunes 7, a las 7 de la tarde, en Estrasburgo, se reúne el comité de Mercado Interno y Protección del Consumidor (IMCO). En el orden del día, el Paquete de Telecomunicaciones. Se votarán las enmiendas bautizadas como "enmiendas-torpedo" por la Asociación de Internautas y La Quadrature du Net. Se trata de otro ataque a la libertad y a la neutralidad de la red, en un nuevo intento de evitar las descargas que ellos llaman "ilegales" (nosotros decimos "compartir").

http://www.informaticaverde.org/blog/?p=54

France is about to enact laws that penalise persistent file-sharers

Europeans suspected of putting movies and music on file-sharing networks could be thrown off the web under proposals before Brussels.

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Campaigners say the laws trample on personal privacy and turn net suppliers into copyright enforcers.

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"[The amendments] pave the way for the monitoring and filtering of the internet by private companies, exceptional courts and Orwellian technical measures," said Christophe Espern, co-founder of French rights group La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the Net) in a statement.

The UK's Open Rights Group said the laws would be "disproportionate and ineffective".

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MEP Malcolm Harbour, rapporteur for users rights and the e-privacy directive who has helped oversee the Telecoms Package, challenged the rights groups view of the amendments.

"The intention of the directive is nothing like direction they are claiming," he said.

The reforms to the package would likely improve rights for consumers, he said adding that there was no mention of specific anti-piracy measures in the Package.

It is not clear yet whether the amendments will be accepted in full. In April 2008 European politicians voted against similar proposals that would have seen suspected file-sharers thrown off the net.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7492907.stm

Französische Musikindustrie macht Druck bei Internetsperren Meldung vorlesen

Der Verband der Musikindustrie in Frankreich, das Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP), hat die Regierung unter Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy aufgefordert, den Gesetzentwurf zum Kappen von Netzzugängen bei Urheberrechtsverletzungen noch vor der Sommerpause ins Parlament einzubringen. "Es wäre nicht akzeptabel", erklärte ein SNEP-Specher, falls die Abgeordneten in diesem Halbjahr nicht mehr über das Vorhaben beraten könnten. Die im November angeköndigte Initiative ist noch nicht weit gekommen, und ihre Verabschiedung verzögert sich derzeit weiter.

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Franzoesische-Musikindustrie-macht-Druck-...

DEFENDAMOS NUESTROS CIBERDERECHOS
Eurodiputados quieren torpedear la libertad en Internet el 7 de Julio

Una semana antes de un voto crucial en la reforma de la ley europea de comunicaciones electrónicas, La Quadrature du Net (La Cuadratura de la Red) denuncia una serie de enmiendas dirigidas a cerrar la arquitectura abierta de Internet para un mayor control y vigilancia de los usuarios.

03-07-2008 - Nota traducida de la Quadrature du net

Bruselas, 1 de julio de 2008 , actualizado el 2 de julio de 2008-07-02

A los usuarios de Internet de Europa se les podría impedir realizar actividades lícitas por medio de spyware obligatorio, en aras a su seguridad. Por tanto, el derecho a usar software libre para acceder a Internet no estaría asegurado nunca más. La neutralidad de la Red también está directamente atacada, al ser el principio de que los intermediarios técnicos no tienen la obligación de la vigilancia previa de los contenidos. Otras enmiendas permitirán de facto a las autoridades administrativas a que obliguen a los ISPs a trabajar conjuntamente con la policía privada de los productores de contenidos y de los gestores de derechos de autor, incluído el envío de mensajes intimidatorios, sin supervisión judicial.

http://www.internautas.org/html/5039.html

A new EU anti-piracy law incorporates elements that could affect the development of the digital world in coming years.

The law, known as Telecom Packet, the difficults the live of pirates with the law called "three-strike". The law at issue three warnings apply to users who downloaded illegal material before expelled from the Internet.

"The laws allow private companies monitor Internet traffic and filters," explains Christophe Espern, the French defence group for privacy and digital rights The Quadrature du Net.

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http://www.proitzone.com/2008/07/11/firefox-and-skype-could-be-declared-...

Making laws in the European Union is a long, complicated and often tedious process that involves a delicate ballet featuring the Council of Ministers, the Parliament and the Commission.

Several amendments from British MEP Syed Kamall, a member of the Conservative group, have been criticised by those campaigning for a more open net, including a change to Article 21 (4a) that asks member states to oblige them to “distribute public interest information to existing and new subscribers when appropriate. Such information shall be produced by the relevant public authorities in a standardised format” and may include “Illegal uses of electronic communications networks” including infringement of copyright and related rights”

This reads like a call for a public information campaign, but observers like the UK-based Open Rights Group and the French-based La Quadrature du Net believe it would oblige ISPs to contact subscribers when they are accused of transmitting licensed content without permission, for example when using file-sharing networks or downloading from unauthorised sources.

Another amendment put forward by Kamall allows that ‘traffic data may be processed’ to ensure the security of a public electronic communication service’, which the campaigners read as giving carte blanche to the content providers to monitor and control what happens on the network on the grounds that copying files or breaking digital rights management counts as a ’security’ breach.

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/16338

Last November, the European Commission proposed a wide review of the rules on EU electronic communications, the so-called 'Telecoms package'. The proposals include upgrading the Directive Pdf external on personal data and protection of privacy for electronic services (see our Links Dossier).

Several parliamentary committees are involved in the dossier on data protection, but two have a binding say on framing the European Parliament's final text. These are the Internal Market and Civil Rights Committees.

The Council is expected to give its final opinion on the issue in November under the current French EU Presidency.

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Behind this unusual rejection lies the LIBE Committee's intention to allow the processing of electronic traffic data by "any natural or legal person", without the consent of the user, if it is necessary for security purposes. Socialist and Green MEPs belonging to the IMCO Committee are not at ease with this wording.

Traffic data include several pieces of information which are considered private by many, particularly IP addresses (the first source of identity in the online world) and information relating to the duration, timing, volume and origins of an electronic communication.

Positions:

Civil liberty group 'Squaring the Net' says the LIBE Committee amendment represents "a major breach for the protection the protection of personal data and privacy, as it allows businesses to remotely control users' electronic communications without their consent". It adds that such a measure "paves the way for the deployment of intrusive technologies on the client".

A spokesperson for the IMCO Committee said that "some MEPs are not certain to accept in the plenary vote the amendments proposed by the LIBE Committee", underlining that there could be problems and that there might be a need "for more time".

Next steps:

* Sep. 2008: Vote on Telecoms package planned in the plenary, although disagreements over electronic data protection could delay the vote.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/eu-parliament-split-electronic-da...

Here's the story that's been making headlines in Europe over the last few days: the EU is getting ready to impose Internet traffic monitoring fit for a police state, might ban all peer-to-peer software, and is ready to implement a "three strikes and you're off the 'Net" policy for users sharing copyrighted files. Gross exaggerations, of course, but you wouldn't necessarily know that if you'd read the news sections of online rights groups, or even the website of the venerable BBC. The phrasing in these reports appear to have originated in press releases from two Internet privacy groups that have what can be charitably called an overheated take on some of the EU legislation's provisions.

Ambiguities, not communism

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That ambiguity hasn't stopped a number of groups from drawing some very unambiguous conclusions about those provisions. The BBC report echoes the contentions of the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure, which accused the European Parliament rushing towards a "Soviet Internet." That contention appears to be based on a provision on packet filtering. Benjamin Henrion, an FFI representative, also charged that the legislation will create some sort of software licensing authority. "Tomorrow," he stated, "popular software applications like Skype or even Firefox might be declared illegal in Europe if they are not certified by an administrative authority."

Those claims are reiterated and extended by the French group La Quadrature du Net, which issued an analysis (PDF) of several amendments last week. In addition to accusations of spying and censorship, the group decries a provision that they term "blackmail by e-mail." This would codify the use of warning letters sent to copyright infringers by ISPs. Oddly, these warning letters are conflated with the "three strikes" proposals, which would ban the infringers after repeated warnings. (The European Parliament rejected the idea of a widespread "three strikes" rule only a couple of months ago.)

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http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080709-proposed-eu-telecom-amendm...

Proposals have been put before European authorities that could see ISPs adopting a far stricter policy towards internet users who illegally download copyrighted music and movie content.

The Telecom Packet includes the proposal of several laws that would see Europeans suspected of putting movies and music on file-sharing networks thrown off the web. A Europe-wide "three strikes" law could be made law which would see users banned from the web if they fail to heed three warnings that they are suspected of putting copyrighted works on file-sharing networks.

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"[The amendments] pave the way for the monitoring and filtering of the internet by private companies, exceptional courts and Orwellian technical measures", said Christophe Espern, co-founder of French rights group La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the Net) in a statement. The Foundation for a Free Internet Infrastructure (FFII) added that the amendments would create a "Soviet internet". "Tomorrow, popular software applications like Skype or even Firefox might be declared illegal in Europe if they are not certified by an administrative authority", warned Benjamin Henrion, FFII representative in Brussels, in a statement.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/15960/16984/EU-crackdown-mu...

According to BBC News, members of the European Parliament voted yesterday in favor of advancing new telecom reform legislation known as the Telecoms Package that includes a series of controverisal amendments that digital rights activists say would pave the way for a 'three-strikes' law against online copyright infringers in Europe.

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Opponents, led by a French group called La Quadrature du Net, warn that the legislation designed to harmonize Europe's telecom laws would instead threaten the openness of the Internet by requiring ISPs to give individuals suspected of downloading unauthorized copyright material two warnings before cutting off their Net access entirely. Another organization, Free Internet Infrastructure (FFII), went a step further, saying that a provision that would give the government the power to determine what type of software can be used online (and what can't) would lead to a "Soviet Internet" in Europe.

The European Parliament will vote on the legislation in September.

http://techpolicysummit.blogs.com/tech_policy_summit/2008/07/eu-parliame...

Gestern Abend gabe es im EU-Parlament in Strassburg einen Abstimmungs-Marathon über das Telekom-Paket. Der Binnenausschuss [IMCO] musste 300 Änderungsanträge (Amendments) behandeln, der Industrieausschuss [ITRE] gar ca. 800. Aus diesen Gründen gibt es bisher auch kaum verlässliche detaillierte Informationen, welche Kompromisse durchgekommen sind. Die Futurezone berichtet als erstes mit Verweis auf Eva Lichtenberger von den Österreichischen Grünen, dass zumindest die Eu-weiten Internet-Sperrungen nach dem französischen Modell keine Mehrheiten gefunden haben: Entscheidung über “Telekompaket“. Mal schauen, was im Laufe des Tages noch analysiert wird und was konkret in etwa 30 Kompromissen zusammengefasst wurde. Ich hab schon Positionspapiere dazu gesehen, wo ich aber nicht wirklich von der verwendeten Sprache überzeugt war.

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Unklar ist, was jetzt mit den “rechtmässigen Inhalten” ist (”lawful content”). Die Verwendung dieses Begriffes in den Kompromissen muss da noch bis Plenums-Abstimmung im September raus. Weil es unklar ist, wie die Provider denn ermitteln sollen, was “rechtmässige” und im Umkehrschluss “unrechtmässige” Inhalte sind. Dies würde einen Eingriff in die Netzinfrastruktur bedeuten und stellt eine ähnliche Herausforderung dar,w ie beispielsweise die chinesische Netzzensur. Wahlweise kann man direkt bestimmte (P2P-)Dienste blocken oder mit Deep-Packet-Inspection einfach mal den kompletten Datenverkehr analysieren, bewerten und sonstwas damit machen. Das ist nicht akzeptabel und verletzt die Netzneutralität.

http://netzpolitik.org/2008/eu-ausschuss-abstimmungen-zum-telekom-paket/

Making laws in the European Union is a long, complicated and often tedious process that involves a delicate ballet featuring the Council of Ministers, the Parliament and the Commission.

...

This reads like a call for a public information campaign, but observers like the UK-based Open Rights Group and the French-based La Quadrature du Net believe it would oblige ISPs to contact subscribers when they are accused of transmitting licensed content without permission, for example when using file-sharing networks or downloading from unauthorised sources.

...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7493365.stm

Internet-Provider sollen generell überwachen, wer Raubkopien ins Netz hochlädt und die beltäter einer Copyright-Behörde melden. Das wollen EU-Parlamentarier in ein Gesetz schreiben. Bürgerrechtler protestieren, im europäischen Parlament formiert sich nun Widerstand.

Harte Worte: "Das EU-Parlament drängt auf ein Sowjet-Internet" betitelt die Bürgerrechtsorganisation "Förderverein für eine Freie Informationelle Infrastruktur" (FFII) einen Protestaufruf. FFII-Präsident Alberto Barrionuevo beschreibt darin aktuelle EU-Gesetzesvorhaben als Vorhaben, "alle Bürger auszuspionieren, um das Urheberrecht zu schützen".

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Auf dem Programm stehen nderungsvorschläge wie dieser des rumänischen Abgeordneten Cristian Silviu Buoi, der Internet-Provider verpflichten will, das Surfverhalten ihrer Kunden zu kontrollieren. Aus seinem nderungsvorschlag zitiert die französische Bürgerrechtsgruppe "La Quadrature du Net":

"Mitgliedsstaaten sollen sicherstellen, dass Kundenverträge ein System von Warnungen und Sanktionen beinhalten, das Kunden sanktioniert, deren Internetverbindung für illegale Zwecke verwendet wird."

MEHR BER...

Urheberrecht Copyright Peer- to- Peer Tauschbörse berwachung "Förderverein für eine Freie Informationelle Infrastruktur" zu SPIEGEL WISSEN hnlich wie in Frankreich zielen viele der von "La Quadrature du Net" und dem FFII veröffentlichten nderungsanträge für EU-Gesetze darauf ab, Provider stärker in die Kontrollpflicht zu nehmen. Die Flut an nderungsanträgen ist kaum zu überblicken, EU-Abgeordnete und Industrie-Ausschussmitglied Erika Mann (SPD) schätzt: "In unserem und dem Binnenmarktsausschuss stehen derzeit mehr als hundert nderungsanträge an, die eine verschärfte Internetkontrolle durch die Provider erzwingen sollen."

Viele dieser Vorschläge, so die Abgeordnete im Gespräch mit SPIEGEL ONLINE, würden von EU-Parlamentariern aus Frankreich und Grobritannien kommen: "Diese nderungen drängen auf eine verdachtsunabhängige berwachung des Datenverkehrs durch die Internet-Provider."

http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/0,1518,564227,00.html

A high-level European vote on communications legislation will take place on Monday evening, raising fears that alleged file-sharers will be denied internet access by their internet service providers.

The vote concerns the passage of a parcel of laws called the 'Telecoms Package'. The Telecoms Package contains several amendments recently added by British Conservative MEPs Malcolm Harbour and Syed Kamall that cover copyright issues. Some experts and campaigners argue that these amendments are worded to lay the foundation for so-called 'three strikes and you're out' legislation to be introduced in Europe.

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At the forefront of the campaign against the Telecoms Package amendments is a French group called La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the net). The most strident support for a 'three strikes' law from a national leader has come from the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. La Quadrature, which describes itself as a 'citizen group', has claimed the amendments "seriously threaten the open architecture of the internet, [the] mere-conduit principle, and the rights and fundamental freedoms of its users".

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39443797,00.htm

MADRID.- Las alarmas han saltado entre los activistas a favor de la neutralidad de la Red y de los derechos de los internautas, a raz de varias polmicas medidas contra el intercambio de archivos en Internet que el Parlamento Europeo tiene encima de la mesa.

El comit de Mercado Interno y Proteccin del Consumidor (IMCO) tiene previsto votar una serie de enmiendas encaminadas, en teora, a controlar los actos ilcitos en la Red.

Propuestas por el conservador britnico Malcolm Harbour, las enmiendas de la discordia son, concretamente, tres.

La H1 habilitara a los gobiernos para establecer restricciones a los contenidos ilcitos en la Red, sobre todo en los que respecta a la calidad del servicio, lo que implicara, por ejemplo, reducir la velocidad de descarga del P2P. La H2 establecera mecanismos de colaboracin entre proveedores de Red y productores de contenido. Por ltimo, la H3 obligara a los proveedores a controlar y avisar a los usuarios que se descarguen contenidos 'ilcitos'.

Desde sitios como Informtica Verde, la Quadrature du Net o la Asociacin de Internautas se han calificado dichas enmiendas como 'Enmiendas-torpedo' y las han criticfado duramente ya que, segn ellos, atacan directamente a la neutrailidad de la Red.

http://www.elmundo.es/navegante/2008/07/07/tecnologia/1215427704.html

Mr. President,

I am writing you on my very own behalf.

I have a bone to pick with you, and the readers of my blog should know my opinion in regards to what you and your government are trying to do to the Internet in the name of the so-called French culture. So in respect of the international audience of this blog, I am compelled to address you in English.

...

Culture, and more precisely French culture, strikes me today as being something you and I have come to disagree on. Your " Three Strikes" approach to what is referred to as the " Internet Piracy" appears to me and many others as failing to address today's challenges of our connected world while depriving citizens and businesses alike from the most elementary rights. Is this your solution to preserving the French culture?

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This calls for three major objections:

First, "killing the artistic creation" does not mean what it initially seems to. ...

Second, this " Internet Piracy" as some call it, is a vague concept. ...

Third and last, I would like to point out what I believe to be a lack of coherence with the rationale put forth in this project. ...

http://standardsandfreedom.net/index.php/2008/07/06/an-open-letter-to-th...

El lunes 7, a las 7 de la tarde, en Estrasburgo, se rene el comit de Mercado Interno y Proteccin del Consumidor (IMCO). En el orden del da, el Paquete de Telecomunicaciones. Se votarn las enmiendas bautizadas como "enmiendas-torpedo" por la Asociacin de Internautas y La Quadrature du Net. Se trata de otro ataque a la libertad y a la neutralidad de la red, en un nuevo intento de evitar las descargas que ellos llaman "ilegales" (nosotros decimos "compartir").

http://www.internautas.org/html/5042.html

"ZeroPaid is reporting that ISPs could be turned into the copyright police through European legislation that received a number of 'intellectual property' amendments. Many of these amendments can be found here. Judging by the amendments, ISPs could be mandated to block legitimate traffic in an effort to 'prevent' illegitimate traffic. To help stop this legislation, you can check out the action page. Additional coverage can be found on EDRI and Open Rights Group."

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/03/0310203

An appeal from three European NGOs - La Quadrature du Net, netzpolitik.org and EDRi-member Open Rights Group - reveal some disturbing MEPs amendments to the draft directives to reform the EU framework on electronic communications (telecom package).

The review of the telecom package was merely focusing on telecom-related issues (except for discussions on the ePrivacy directive, which is the subject of another EDRi-gram article in the current issue), but some of the 800 amendments on the 5 directives that form the current package might go further than just establishing the rules for a functioning electronic communications market and could endanger the principle of the neutrality of the Internet.

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"The politicians who engage in these summer manoeuvres dishonour Europe and their mandate. They rely on the fact that nobody watches them few days before Parliamentary holiday, to divert the Telecom package from its primary objectives of consumer protection. They pave the way for the monitoring and filtering of the Internet by private companies, exceptional courts and Orwellian technical measures. It is inconceivable for freedom but also for European economic development. We call on all MEPs to oppose what they have already rejected." said Christophe Espern, co-founder of La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the Net).

http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number6.13/telecom-package-internet

Bürgerrechtler und Blogger rufen zu Protesten gegen jüngste Änderungsanträge zur geplanten Novelle des EU-Gesetzespakets zur Regulierung des Telekommunikationsmarktes auf.

In den umstrittenen Vorschlägen konservativer Abgeordneter geht es vor allem um die Einführung einer Regelung, wonach Internetzugänge bei wiederholten Urheberrechtsverletzungen gekappt werden sollen ("Three-Strikes"-Bestimmung). Generell soll die Nutzung illegaler Inhalte durch ein staatlich lizenziertes Überwachungssystem verhindert werden. Die Änderungsanträge würden aber noch weit darüber hinausgehen, heißt es in einer gemeinsamen Erklärung der Bürgerrechtsorganisationen La Quadrature du Net aus Frankreich und der britischen Open Rights Group mit dem Blog netzpolitik.org. Es würde auch das Prinzip der Freiheit und Offenheit des Internet in Form der Netzneutralität gefährdet.

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Die Internetnutzer rufen die Bürgerrechtler auf, sich noch im Lauf der Woche vor den entscheidenden Ausschussabstimmungen am Montag an ihre Volksvertreter in Brüssel zu wenden und sie auf die verheerenden "Torpedo-Ergänzungen" hinzuweisen. Sie haben dazu eine Wiki-Seite eingerichtet mit ganz konkreten Anleitungen auf Deutsch, Englisch und Französisch, wie konkret welche Abgeordnete per E-Mail und Telefon kontaktiert werden sollten. Die Hinweise reichen bis hin zu detaillierten Gesprächsvorgaben für Anrufe. Ziel ist es den Parlamentariern nahe zu legen, gegen die Änderungsanträge zu votieren. (Stefan Krempl)

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Europaweite-Kampagne-gegen-Ueberwachungsp...

Yes, everybody’s trying to punish the “bloody” pirates, who don’t give a damn about copyright policies and do their best to share information with other Internet consumers.

...

In an article published today in “Le Monde”, they say that the government is now trying to find the best solutions to domesticate those people so fond of “téléchargement illicite”. But their strategy is a more pedagogical one.

...

I’m pretty curious what the final law against illegal downloads will look like in France. Anyway, it’s funny to see how they all try to find the aproppriate solutions for fighting against one of the most “natural” consequences of Internet consumption. Thank God in Romania we’re some good years behind as far as copyright laws are concerned.

http://www.copyleft.ro/2008/06/18/the-online-witch-hunt-continues-the-fr...

The EFF points us to new disturbing demands by the French version of the RIAA known as SNEP (Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique). Among the demands are a deadline for laws to be put in place that would disconnecting file-sharers from the internet and the ability to serve as police, judge and jury against French P2P users.

When it comes to making what many see as far fetched claims about copyright, many think of copyright industry bodies inside the United States. Recently though, it seems as though there are dramatic claims and demands coming out of the French copyright industry recently.

The EFF recently pointed to a posting made by La Quadrature Du Net (Squaring the Net) which shows, among other things, a leaked copy of the proposed French law.

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9477/French+RIAA+Announces+Deadline+to+Ban+...

Six months on from the original Olivennes report, with growing objections across Europe, collapsing support for Sarkozy's administration at home, and still no "three strikes" law on any statute books, the entertainment industry is getting a little antsy. Last week, the French RIAA, le Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP), announced a deadline to Sarkozy's ministers. Hervé Rony, SNEP spokesman, said "it would not be acceptable" for the three strikes law to miss the French Parliament's Summer schedule.

It looks like SNEP's demands are not going to be met. Before the "Loi Olivennes" can even reach parliament, it has to be examined by the French Counseil d'Etat, the senior jurists that advise the French executive and acts as France's supreme court.

They are not rushing their analysis. Just why might be gleaned from the leaked copy of the law sent to them for consideration (provided by Squaring the Net in French). Even after being moderated from earlier drafts, the document still describes a stunning shift in judicial and enforcement, both offline and on.

After explaining exactly why drastic measures are necessary (to "prevent the hemorrhaging of cultural works on the Internet") 1 the document outlines a powerful new government body, the High Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet (La Haute Autorité pour la diffusion des œuvres et la protection des droits sur Internet, or HADOPI).

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/struggles-frances-three-strikes-law

A recently published and adopted report from the EU Parliament throws a long-awaited crumb of comfort to the beleaguered European ISP community, braced for legal assault over issues of electronic content copyright.

So what? you may ask.

Well, according to an expert an the specialised area that is European politics, this amendment could be significant and might spike the guns of the pro-copyright “flog ‘em and hang ‘em’ brigade (now led by French President, Nicholas Sarkozy).

Under the French proposals, for instance, ISPs would be forced to adopt an active policing policy on behalf of the content industries. This would include network filtering, cutting off P2P traffic flows that contained ‘pirated’ material, in addition to taking down material flagged up by copyright owners. It would also mandate ISPs to disconnect customers who offended one times too many (’three strikes and you’re out’).

The Bono Report amendment goes the other way and sets out the parliament’s attitude to the Internet and its little ways: it confirms what a great thing the Internet is in its role of connecting people, promoting innovation etc.

http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=43004&id=e9381817-0593-417a-863...

PARIS: Prodded by the music industry and government, some Internet service providers are reluctantly exploring the adoption of an old-fashioned shunning ritual as the ultimate 21st century punishment: banishing errant online users.

(...)

Lawmakers in the European Parliament, in a symbolic vote Thursday, expressed their opposition to the three-strikes approach, which has been championed by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and explored by governments of other countries, from Britain to Japan to Australia. Many consumer groups are also fighting such proposals, and at least one British service provider is promising a rebellion.

"It's a breach of our civil liberties," said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish legislator in the European Parliament who sponsored the measure, an amendment to a report on cultural industries in Europe. "When government limits access to the Internet it's like limiting freedom of speech. It's like banning people from printing books."

(...)

"We believe it's a threat, particularly to public liberties," said Christophe Espem, co-founder of a French group, Squaring the Net, formed to challenge proposed Internet restrictions. He noted that the new administrative authority that would rule on offenses would be outside the legal system.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/13/business/ISP14.php?page=1

Broadband users who are caught sharing files should not lose their internet connection according to European politicians who threw out the suggestion, reports the BBC.

It had been proposed that consumers caught pirating material such as songs or films would not be able to continue using the internet - with the service providers policing usage.

However, as French broadband users prepare to face tougher action against piracy, the European Parliament voted in an amendment to the bill on the issue, which claimed that banning users was against civil liberties.

A spokesperson is reported as saying: "The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures like cutting off internet access shouldn't be used."

Earlier in the year, the BBC reported that UK internet providers said that they were unable to fulfill a government request to closely monitor broadband usage, with the Internet Service Providers Association explaining that they are not responsible for network traffic.

http://www.broadband-finder.co.uk/news/broadband/europe-filesharers-will...

The European Parliament is not backing plans to ban illegal file-sharers from the internet.

The plans suggested ISPs should monitor customers and implement a 'three strikes' rule that would see offenders issued with written warnings and even possible suspension if they continue to download pirate software.

However MEPs backed an amendment to the report, which claimed banning web users conflicted with "civil liberties and human rights".

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=12719

People should not be criminalised for the file-sharing of copyrighted material if they are not profiting from doing so, the European Parliament has recommended.

On Thursday, the parliament voted through two reports on the cultural industries. Both contained amendments that were directly related to the ongoing argument between the content industry and Internet service provider (ISPs). In this conflict, the ISPs are claiming that they should not have to disconnect those users who are persistent filesharers, but the content industry is calling for a "three strikes and you're out" rule in order to protect intellectual property.

http://news.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029666,49296493,00.htm

European MPs have voted down a proposal to impose internet banning orders on individuals who illegally download content.

The move conflicts with a UK government plans for a three strike system against illegal downloaders.

"The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures like cutting off internet access shouldn't be used," said a spokeswoman for the European Parliament after the vote.

http://www.managementconsultancy.co.uk/computing/news/2214145/meps-peopl...

The BBC reported that MEPs had narrowly voted to amend the plans, saying that internet bans conflicted with “civil liberties and human rights”.

The amendment recommends that those downloading illegal files not be criminalised unless they profit from it.

“The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures like cutting off internet access shouldn't be used,” a spokeswoman for the European Parliament told the BBC.

A number of European governments including Britain and France had proposed tough legislation to fight online piracy that costs the music and movie industry billions of pounds.

http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/eu-against-three-strikes-piracy-policy...

People should not be criminalised for the file-sharing of copyrighted material if they are not profiting from doing so, the European Parliament has recommended.

At the end of last week the parliament voted through two reports on the cultural industries. Both contained amendments that were directly related to the ongoing argument between the content industry and internet service provider. In this conflict, the ISPs are claiming they should not have to disconnect those users who are persistent file-sharers, but the content industry is calling for a "three strikes and you're out" rule in order to protect intellectual property.

The argument encompasses not only the prospect of users being "banned" from internet use but also the deep packet inspection techniques that would have to be employed in order to catch them.

http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39187851,00.htm

The parliament was voting on the Bono Report on the Cultural Industries, which examined the development of culture and intellectual property in the Union. Swedish MEP Christofer Fjellner and the former Prime Minister of France, Michel Rocard put in a last minute amendment saying that a three strike rule would:

"[conflict] with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of Internet access".

The amended bill squeaked through, 314 in favour to 297 against, against a background of heavy lobbying from both sides.

"The European Parliament's file-sharer friendly statement is well timed," said Karl Sigfrid, a Swedish national MP, in his blog.

"France will soon get the opportunity to chair the EU, and one priority will be to force European ISPs to cut the internet connection of anyone illegally downloading a song or a movie. If insisting on his plans, Sarkozy now faces an uphill battle."

http://www.itweek.co.uk/vnunet/news/2214169/eu-votes-protect-file-sharin...

PARIS — Prodded by the music industry and government, some Internet service providers are reluctantly exploring the adoption of a shunning ritual as 21st century punishment: banishing errant online users.

But even as service providers test “three strikes” warning systems that can result in the disconnection of Internet users who are thought to have illegally downloaded copyrighted music or movies, resistance is building.

Lawmakers in the European Parliament, in a symbolic vote Thursday, expressed their opposition to the approach, which has been championed by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and explored by governments of other countries. Consumer groups are also fighting such proposals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/14/business/worldbusiness/14isp.html?_r=1...

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has said the amendment was badly drafted and a contradiction to the contents of the full report.

"We look forward to a full discussion in the European Parliament in the coming months on how best to address copyright theft online"
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)

As the law stands, media rights owners can take individuals to court over copyright infringement, but this path is generally slow and may for the average file sharer cost more to pursue than the sales lost from the sharing. The discussion in the UK is generally around a set of laws not unlike what France is to implement, whereby those found sharing copyright material without permission will receive warnings via their Internet service provider and face eventual disconnection.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3502-meps-say-anti-piracy-plans-confl...

"The European Parliament adopted a resolution this morning which commits the member states - therefore France - «to avoid adopting measures conflicting with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of Internet access.» This vote proves that the system of graduated response that Nicolas Sarkozy wants France to adopt quickly and to extend to Europe during the French Presidency of the EU, is seen as contrary to human rights by a majority of MEPs..."

http://www.fsdaily.com/Legal/European_Parliament_rejects_graduated_respo...

The European Parliament threw out attempts to criminalise file sharing in a plenary vote yesterday.

Although not legally binding, the 'no' vote is expected to hamper plans on the part of some governments in Europe to introduce a 'three-strikes' rule that would force internet service providers (ISPs) to ban users found sharing copyrighted files of music, TV shows or films via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. [...]

Malene Folke Chaucheprat, a European Parliament spokeswoman said: "The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers and that big measures like cutting off internet access shouldn't be used."

http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/186843/eu-rejects-filesharing-laws.html

European politicians have voted down calls to throw suspected file-sharers off the net.

The idea to cut off persistent pirates formed part of a wide-ranging report on creative industries written for the European parliament.

But in a narrow vote MEPs backed an amendment to the report which said net bans conflicted with "civil liberties and human rights".

It puts MEPS at odds with governments planning tough action against pirates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7342135.stm

THE EU PARLIAMENT narrowly threw out a vote that would have banned file sharing by private individuals and decided against banning copyright abusers from the Internet.

314 Members of the European Parliament voted for an amendment that killed off a bill that would have protected copyright over the Internet. 297 voted against the amendment.

A European Parliament spokeswoman told Information World that MEPs wanted to strike a balance between the rights of rights holders and those of consumers.

The move has been at the instigation of France, which already has similar laws in place. It wanted to have a three strikes law which means that offenders lose the right to an Internet account after being caught sharing copyright-protected music over the Internet for a third time.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/04/11/eu-parliament-rej...

By a 314-297 vote, the European Parliament has signaled its opposition to recent initiatives to kick users off the Internet for repeated copyright infringement. The vote came on an amendment (Word document) to the wide-reaching Bono Report on the Cultural Industries, which is intended in part to develop a policy strategy for the European creative industry. And whenever the creative industry is involved, there's a question of copyright.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080410-european-parliament-says-n...

This morning the European Parliament voted in plenary session on the report by Mr Guy Bono (French
Socialist MEP) on cultural industries in Europe.

Although the report recognises the need to ensure that cultural industries and artists receive a fair remuneration for their work, particularly in the digital environment, it clarifies that “criminalising consumers who are not seeking to make a profit is not the right solution to combat digital piracy” and expresses the wish to “avoid the adoption of measures running counter to human rights, civic rights and the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and deterrent effect, such as interruption of access to the internet”.

The European Parliament has thus spoken out against the idea of the “Graduated Response”
advocated notably in France by the Oliviennes Report, which aims at cutting off the internet access of people suspected of illegal downloading. This measure is disproportionate, inefficient and, which is more serious, violates some fundamental rights such as the right of presumption of innocence and of data protection. This option is contrary to all the procedural safeguards foreseen at European level in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, and notably the right of every person who is accused of a crime to a fair trial.

According to Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC, “The Graduated Response goes against some of consumers’ fundamental rights and we applaud the European Parliament and its MEPs for rejecting today the idea of its diffusion in Europe”.

http://www.beuc.eu/Content/Default.asp?PageID=836&LanguageCode=en

EFF (which has been following the Bono report closely since the first attempts were made to "hijack" it last October) collaborated with activists across Europe to co-ordinate support for the amendment, and wrote to all MEPs yesterday to point out the real dangers of graduated response, and urge a vote for both parts. French Net activists, including the new Squaring the Net initiative, contacted their MEPs en masse to oppose the French Government's recommendation. And Guy Bono, the author of the report, had this to say in the plenary:

"On this subject, I am firmly opposed to the position of some Member States, whose repressive measures are dictated by industries that have been unable to change their business model to face necessities imposed by the information society. The cut of Internet access is a disproportionate measure regarding the objectives. It is a sanction with powerful effects, which could have profound repercussions in a society where access to the Internet is an imperative right for social inclusion."

Both parts of the amendment passed. (You can watch the vote in French, English and German - it's about two minutes in.).

The entertainment industry originally intended the Bono Report on the Cultural Industries to be a stalking horse for their new approach, encouraging MEPs to insert language that would show support for copyright extension, banning Net users, and censoring the Net in the interests of rightsholders.

Instead it has turned into a watershed: a clear rejection of the strategy of forcing the telecommunications industry to act as a private police force for entertainment lobby — and a positive endorsement of the Net's free flow of information, and a positive agenda for copyright reform. It seems like the music industry will remain the only group to believe that spying, filtering and punishing your own customers is a good idea: either for business, or for society as a whole.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/european-parliament-sarkozy-no-thre...