[Ecommerce] EUCommission proposes criminal law provisions
for IP infringements
sarah.b.deutsch@verizon.com
sarah.b.deutsch@verizon.com
Wed Jul 20 12:35:07 2005
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Article 3 of this directive broadens concepts of inducement in the Grokster=
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case in the civil context and turns undefined concepts such as "attempting"=
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"aiding" and "inciting" into criminal copyright violations. If this=0D
passes, that would certainly make it easier to argue for a "Grokster-Plus"=
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secondary liability scheme into the civil law.=0D
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Sarah=0D
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Sarah B. Deutsch=0D
Vice President & Associate General Counsel=0D
Verizon Communications=0D
Phone: 703-351-3044=0D
Fax: 703-351-3670=0D
sarah.b.deutsch@verizon.com=0D
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"Jeff Williams"=0D
<jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com> To: "Michelle C=
hilds" <michelle.childs@cptech.org>=0D
Sent by: cc: ecommerce@l=
ists.essential.org, ip-health@lists.essential.org=0D
ecommerce-admin@lists.es Subject: Re: [Ecomme=
rce] EUCommission proposes criminal law provisions for IP=0D
sential.org infringements=0D
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07/14/2005 10:49 PM=0D
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Michelle and all,=0D
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Perhaps the EU will next consider egregious forms of capital=0D
punishment for IP infractions/violations?=0D
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Criminal sanctions will do little to address IP issues and or=0D
abuses except to fill jails and prisons with violators, and clog=0D
already strained criminal court systems with a more cases.=0D
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Rather a more reasonable approach would be to moderate=0D
the current IP rules, regulations and laws in order to be somewhat=0D
reasonable in a changing world...=0D
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Michelle Childs wrote:=0D
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> The EU is proposing another benefit for IP holders: criminal sanctions=
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> As it applies to all IP this means potential further chilling effects on=
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> patents, as well as more fear mongering in copyright actions.=0D
> Michelle=0D
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> <SNIP> The proposed measures apply to all types of infringements of=0D
> intellectual property rights. Under the proposal for a directive, all=0D
> intentional infringements of an intellectual property right on a=0D
> commercial scale, and attempting, aiding or abetting and inciting such=0D
> infringements are treated as criminal offences.=0D
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> --=0D
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http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=3DIP/05/906&for=
mat=3DHTML&aged=3D0&language=3DEN&guiLanguage=3Den=0D
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> <=0D
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=3DIP/05/906&for=
mat=3DHTML&aged=3D0&language=3DEN&guiLanguage=3Den=0D
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> *IP/05/906*=0D
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> Brussels, 12 July 2005=0D
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> *Counterfeiting and piracy: the Commission proposes European=0D
> criminal-law provisions to combat infringements of intellectual=0D
> property rights*=0D
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> */Today the European Commission adopted proposals for a directive and=0D
> for a framework decision to combat infringements of intellectual=0D
> property rights. The purpose of the proposed measures is to align=0D
> national criminal law and improve European cooperation so as to deal=0D
> effectively with counterfeiting and piracy activities, which are often=0D
> carried out by criminal organisations. Counterfeiting and piracy, and=0D
> infringements of intellectual property in general, have increased=0D
> significantly in recent years and seriously undermine several sectors of=
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> the European economy./*=0D
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> Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible=0D
> for Justice, Freedom and Security, remarked that the new measures=0D
> proposed by the Commission form the criminal law front to the fight=0D
> against counterfeiting and piracy in Europe. Effective alignment of=0D
> national criminal law in this domain, he declared, =E2=80=9Cforms a basic=
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> platform underpinning our joint efforts to eradicate these phenomena=0D
> which are undermining the economy=E2=80=9D. Criminal organisations are no=
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> investing in these activities which are often more lucrative than other=
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> types of trafficking and still carry light penalties. Counterfeiters and=
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> pirates jeopardise legitimate businesses and threaten=0D
> innovation. Furthermore, in many cases, counterfeit goods pose a real=0D
> danger to public health and safety.=0D
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> The proposed measures apply to all types of infringements of=0D
> intellectual property rights. Under the proposal for a directive, all=0D
> intentional infringements of an intellectual property right on a=0D
> commercial scale, and attempting, aiding or abetting and inciting such=0D
> infringements are treated as criminal offences.=0D
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> The proposal for a framework decision sets a threshold for criminal=0D
> penalties applicable to the perpetrators of these offences: at least=0D
> four years' imprisonment if the offence involves a criminal organisation=
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> or if it jeopardises public health and safety. The applicable fine must=
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> be at least EUR 100 000 to EUR 300 000 for cases involving criminal=0D
> organisations or posing a risk to public health and safety. The proposal=
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> allows Member States to apply tougher penalties.=0D
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> The Commission hopes that this clear political signal reflecting the=0D
> determination to combat piracy and counterfeiting will be supported by=0D
> concerted, long-term information campaigns by national and regional=0D
> authorities and other interested parties to raise awareness, not only=0D
> among key players in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy but=0D
> also amongst the wider public as a whole.=0D
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> --=0D
> Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs=0D
> Consumer Project on Technology in London=0D
> 24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.=0D
> Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.=0D
> Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607=0D
> http://www.cptech.org=0D
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> Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC=0D
> PO Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036, USA=0D
> Tel.: 1.202.387.8030, fax: 1.202.234.5176=0D
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> Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva=0D
> 1 Route des Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland=0D
> Tel: +41 22 791 6727=0D
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> _______________________________________________=0D
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Regards,=0D
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--=0D
Jeffrey A. Williams=0D
Spokesman for INEGroup LLA. - (Over 134k members/stakeholders strong!)=0D
"Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others" -=0D
Pierre Abelard=0D
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"If the probability be called P; the injury, L; and the burden, B;=0D
liability depends upon whether B is less than L multiplied by=0D
P: i.e., whether B is less than PL."=0D
United States v. Carroll Towing (159 F.2d 169 [2d Cir. 1947]=0D
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Updated 1/26/04=0D
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