[A2k] BSA News Release on French and internet filtering, and on ACTA

[Manon Ress]

BSA News Release:  BSA COMMENDS FRENCH AND US GOVERNMENTS FOR
COLLABORATION IN DETERMINING MODERN, WORKABLE COPYRIGHT POLICIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Amos Snead, media@bsa.org, 202-715-1531
BSA COMMENDS FRENCH AND US GOVERNMENTS FOR COLLABORATION IN
DETERMINING MODERN, WORKABLE COPYRIGHT POLICIES

Copyright Conference Tackles Emerging IPR Issues in the Digital Economy

Paris, 3 June, 2008 =96 The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today
recognized efforts by the French and US Governments to address
critical issues related to intellectual property (IP) protection in a
digital environment. In particular, BSA applauded French Minister of
Culture Christine Albanel=92s clarification that mandatory internet
filtering requirements, initially considered in the Olivennes Report,
will not be included in the review of the French copyright law.
Instead, BSA encourages the government to push for the protection of
copyrighted content online through voluntary =96 not mandated =96
solutions agreed by industry and other stakeholders, and that respect
the privacy of French citizens.

BSA also applauded the European Parliament for proposing that Internet
filtering mandates be prohibited by European law, saying the mandated
use of technologies for detecting, intercepting or preventing
infringement of intellectual property rights by Internet users can
create insurmountable technical challenges for industry and hinder
innovation in Europe. It also threatens fundamental privacy rights of
European citizens. The prohibition of Internet filtering for
intellectual property infringement will be discussed by European
Parliamentarians as part of the review of current European
telecommunication laws.

SNIP

BSA also expressed its support for the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade Agreement (ACTA) as an important tool in the fight against
counterfeiting and piracy. In his remarks at the conference, Holleyman
noted that piracy cost the industry nearly $48 billion in global
losses last year. BSA and its members will continue to support the
development of a stronger international framework for the protection
of copyright and other forms of intellectual property, building on the
provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).


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Manon Ress
manon.ress@keionline.org,

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