(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

The German non-profit organization "Netzwerk Freies Wissen" (Free Knowledge Network) heavily criticizes the goals of the conference held by the G8 states' ministers of justice starting on 23 May 2007.

The most important item on the agenda is a stronger enforcement of intellectual property. For this reason the Network, together with other organizations and private persons from many countries will present the "Civil Society declaration on the G8 summit 2007 and intellectual property rights".

"The goal of this declaration is to point out the severe problems in this area, which have grown throughout the world in the last years", says Petra Buhr, speaker for the network. "Furthermore we demand radical changes in the politics of the G8", she adds. Be it patents on drugs, the protection of seeds that prevent the cultivation of plants or the freedom of education which is threatened by strong copyright laws. The paper demands, that a state has to decide by itself on how far it wants to introduce intellectual property laws and that the pressure, mainly on developing countries, must stop in order to allow a fair development.

Also the paper talks about the problems in the G8 states. It claims software patents are a threat to innovation and digital rights management a threat to the worlds cultural heritage. It also demands a massive aid towards alternatives such as free access to knowledge or free software which was financed by public funds. It shows concern at the increasing privatization of public research.

Finally the Network demands from the hosting German Government to show its true colours: "It is perfidious to talk about fake T-Shirts and unsafe medicine while actually trying to stop the important production of generic drugs in developing countries", Buhr answers to a statement of Brigitte Zypries, the German minister of justice. "The government arguments are one-sided. The problems caused by ever increasing intellectual property rights are complex and very serious. Alternatives should be chosen instead of enforcing a very corrupt system worldwide" Buhr concludes.

The declaration is open for signatories starting today. Among the first signatories of the Declaration are also the EDRI-members Netzwerk Neue Medien, Chaos Computer Club and Swiss Internet User Group SIUG.

Declaration - For better development and just access to knowledge in all forms - Against the domination of exclusionary rights on the knowledge economy - A civil society statement concerning intellectual property and the 2007 G8 summit
http://www.wissensallmende.de/fileadmin/texte/declarationG8andIPR_fina...

Tool for signatures
http://declaration.wissensallmende.de

Statement Minister of Jusice Zypris (15.05 2007)
http://www.bmj.bund.de/files/-/2100/150507_Einladung%20M%FCnchen_EN.pd...

General information on the G8 meeting by the German government
http://www.bmj.bund.de/enid/3320bc452726d09f1d7597a41995475e,0/G8_Pres...

(Thanks to Petra Buhr - Netzwerk Freies Wissen)