Czech PM not surprised at EP rejecting ACTA agreement
09.07.2012 12:27
CeskeNoviny: Prague - The European Parliament´s (EP) rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was not surprising and the Czech government must respect it, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) said in reaction to the EP´s decision today.
Industry and Trade Minister Martin Kuba (ODS) said the EP decision would have no impact on the Czech legal order.
Nothing will change for the Czech Republic. The ACTA was significant only for the protection of Czech export outside the EU, Kuba added.
The ACTA aimed to create rules to strengthen the observance of intellectual property rights, fight the spread of illegal copies and counterfeits of all kind, including music, films, medicines, brand clothes as well as consumer electronics.
The Czech government signed the ACTA, but it eventually suspended the Czech ratification process over domestic and international protests.
Extra-parliamentary Pirate Party deputy chairman Mikulas Ferjencik welcome the EP´s decision today.
As the EP rejected the ACTA, it cannot come into force in the EU. According to the EP press section, 478 MEPs voted against the agreement, 39 supported it and 165 abstained from the vote.
The ACTA supporters point out that the agreement will prevent computer piracy, illegal copies of audio-visual works and the inflow of counterfeited goods to European markets.
However, its opponents say the ACTA will limit the Internet freedom and free access to information. Mass demonstrations against the ACTA were staged in the Czech Republic and other EU countries mainly at the beginning of the year.