European Parliament 'opposes' SOPA copyright law in new resolution
Summary: The European Parliament has added its voice to the growing weight of opposition to the U.S. SOPA, which could infringe even the most basic of web freedoms.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution that criticises the use of domain names seizures by U.S. authorities on copyright 'infringing' websites.
The resolution will seek to counteract the measures of the U.S. government's policy on blocking access to websites that link to or contain alleged copyrighted material.
The European Parliament, the lower house for the 27 member states, joins a burgeoning list of organisations, industry partners, academics and governments opposing the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
In the resolution, the European Parliament:
"25. Stresses the need to protect the integrity of the global internet and freedom of communication by refraining from unilateral measures to revoke IP addresses or domain names"
It also goes on to highlight the importance of "safeguarding freedom and security" and that this should, "not be met at the cost of sacrificing core principles relating to civil liberties".
U.S. authorities since 2010 have used domain name seizures as a method of taking down websites that appear to or directly facilitate the infringement of copyrighted materials, such as movies and films, software and music.
SOPA will enable the U.S. government and law enforcement to block access to websites on a global scale, not necessarily within the confines of the United States' legal jurisdiction. This not only includes the .com domain, but .net and .org also; domain names used by millions of businesses and organisations outside the United States.
The European Parliament's resolution adds more weight to the collective voice, spurred on this week by a hearing of the SOPA bill, which could force companies even with public stock to lose their domains should a copyright infringement suit be filed.
Related:
- Between the Lines: SOPA: Why the 'broken web' should stay broken
- SOPA, pols run into Internet buzz saw
- British PM considers turning off social networks amid further riots
- Twitter’s ‘landmark’ court ruling: Why British free speech is over
- Updated European law will close Patriot Act data access loophole
- Violet Blue: China Wants Its Hands All Over Your Internet
- Ed Burnette: Why Google should stay in China
Around the network:
- CNET: Google, Facebook, Zynga oppose new SOPA copyright bill
- New flap over SOPA copyright bill: Anti-Web security?
- Hollywood’s SOPA testimony links job loss to piracy
- CBS News: Backers defend controversial online copyright bill
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Talkback
What most basic of web freedoms are they infringing on?
Nice scam! How do I get in on that?
RE: European Parliament 'opposes' SOPA copyright law in new resolution
Those being infringed should get a court order in the land where the site is hosted and get the site taken down, legitimately. This is a civil matter, the US Government shoulding be sticking its nose in and they shouldn't be enforcing US policy on other nations.
I'm all for fighting piracy and getting it off the Internet, as much as possible, but SOPA is the wrong way to do it.
RE: European Parliament 'opposes' SOPA copyright law in new resolution