Rita Matulionyte and Axel MetzgerA group of prominent European academics coordinated by Rita Matulionyte and Axel Metzger from the Leibniz University in Hanover has released an opinion on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).  The opinion identifies the most critical aspects of ACTA and shows how it clashes both with EU law and with the enforcement provisions of the TRIPS Agreement.

The drafting committee invites European and national institutions to carefully consider the opinion before ratifying the Agreement or withholding consent.  The opinion is open for signatures until February 7, 2011, and it will then be submitted to the European Parliament and other relevant European and national institutions.

The text of the opinion and a form for signatures is available at: http://www.iri.uni-hannover.de/acta-1668.html