INTA recommends rejection of ACTA

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was rejected by the European Parliament's International Trade committee (INTA) by 19 votes to 12 today. The vote comes after widespread international public opposition to the treaty. The committee also decided to ignore calls to postpone voting until after a European Court of Justice (ECJ) review of ACTA, widely seen as a delaying tactic to suppress opposition.

Ed Geraghty made the following comments on hearing of the result:

"Our objections to ACTA have been consistent. This treaty was discussed in secret and it diminishes privacy in order to protect outdated business models. It harms developing countries and unfairly favours the big players. It's neither in our interests nor your interests; it's not for your benefit, it's not good for humanity."

"Our opponents have attempted to portray us all as extreme or ill-informed. But the response of the EU committees show that we have been right all along. Today's votes by the International Trade committee support that."

"We will continue to fight against ACTA and any similar legislation, whether at the national or international level."

Ed Geraghty
Foreign Policy Spokesperson
Pirate Party UK
@tuoniPPUK

campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk

Contact:
press@pirateparty.org.uk
+44 (0) 161 987 7880