ACTA Now On Life Support, May Not Make It Through Vote

Warriors of the Internet have good reason to be relieved today. ACTA got hit with a rejection so big that it may sway the vote in the Internet’s favor. It seems that people actually going outsid...
ACTA Now On Life Support, May Not Make It Through Vote
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Warriors of the Internet have good reason to be relieved today. ACTA got hit with a rejection so big that it may sway the vote in the Internet’s favor. It seems that people actually going outside and protesting on behalf of the Internet can get things done.

RT is reporting that the International Trade Committee (INTA) of the European Parliament has rejected ACTA. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a unanimous decision as 19 voted against it and 12 voted for the controversial treaty. Still, the majority ruling against it should help set the stage for a rejection once it hits the European Parliament vote in early July.

The rejection from the INTA today is just the latest in a string of rejections against the treaty. We reported two weeks ago that three committees within the European Parliament – Industry, Civil Liberties and the Legal Affairs Committees – all voted against it. Rejection from the INTA is the final nail in the coffin as far as committees go and a vote for it in the actual parliament would show not only contempt for the citizens, but for its own members as well.

Unfortunately, ACTA still has a chance to survive and be voted through. It was found that ACTA supporters may resort to dirty tricks to get what they want either through delays or pro-copyright industry rhetoric. Neither of those are likely to work, but the final idea – a secret ballot – may be just the ticket. It would allow those who publicly rejected ACTA to vote for it and none of the citizens would be none the wiser.

Regardless, the rejection from the INTA gives us hope that ACTA will be shot down and left to the books on failed treaties. It would be great if the rejection of ACTA had a ripple effect that would cause more countries in Southeast Asia to reject the equally awful TPP. It may even help the effort of getting our own government to shoot down CISPA. We can only hope.

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