[Ecommerce] EU Piracy measures announced today

[Michelle Childs]

 MEMO
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/364&
type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

PRESS
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1247&t
ype=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en


The European Commission has presented a package of measures to
strengthen protection for the EU and its citizens against counterfeiting
and piracy. The measures proposed for action in 2005 and 2006 would
increase Community level protection through improved legislation and
operational controls, strengthen the customs/business partnership and
reinforce international co-operation in this area. Statistics showing
the amount of counterfeit and pirated articles seized at the EU's
external borders in 2004 demonstrate that counterfeiting is a growing
and increasingly dangerous phenomenon. The 103 million counterfeited and
pirated goods seized in 2004 represent an increase of more than 12%
compared to 2003 and 1000% compared to 1998. Fake foodstuffs, medicines,
household items and car parts, that can damage the health and safety of
consumers, are continuing to grow in number and the higher quality of
fakes is making detection more difficult.


--
Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs
Consumer Project on Technology in London
24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.
Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.
Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607
http://www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC
PO Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel.:  1.202.387.8030, fax: 1.202.234.5176

Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727