An opinion on ACTA drafted by European academics 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. FFII reports that EU trade negotiator Pedro Velasco Martins has lashed out at the letter, saying that “ACTA does not require the introduction of any modification of EU legislation and will not require any legislative implementation in Europe,” and that the professors should know better.
The opinion is open for sign-on until the end of the day. The text of the opinion and a form for signatures is available at: http://www.iri.uni-hannover.de/acta-1668.html
For more information:
- Audio Recording of the Comments by Mr. Pedro Velasco Martins, Deputy Head of Unit, Public Procurement and Intellectual Property Directorate-General for Trade
- “ACTA and the EU’s historic mission to ‘civilize’ the Internet.” Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue IP Policy Committee Blog. David Hammerstein. January 30, 2011.
- “Certainly, the Professors Should Know Better.” FFII Blog. Ante Wessels. January 25, 2011.
