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Deutsch: Wirre Diskussionen im EP über die Durchsetzung geistiger Eigentumsrec...

The probably final set of discussions around the much-debated "Gallo Report" on the enforcement of intellectual property rights was held recently in the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EP).

In the week prior to the discussions, a study prepared for the International Chamber of Commerce had claimed that 185 000 jobs were lost as a result of intellectual property infringements in 2008 and this would rise to 1.2 million jobs by 2015. This was, unsurprisingly, seized upon by supporters of ever-stronger legislation on intellectual property infringements.

The study's methodology was heavily criticised by the Social Science Research Centre (SSRC), primarily for the assumption that domestic IPR infringement was a 100% loss to the economy and that the money saved by consumers through infringements would not be spent in the domestic economy and secondly that any losses would be 100% absorbed by European companies.

MEPs that supported the fact that the SSRC was making valid arguments were accused by Mme Gallo and by certain trade unions of claiming that intellectual property infringements were of no significance whatsoever.

Bearing in mind that the European Commission has allocated one million Euro (according the website of one of the participants) to the Counter Project for "exploring the consumption of counterfeit and pirated leisure goods" and half a million Euro for a separate study on the impact of intellectual property infringements, it is rather surprising that the MEPs who believe that the International Chamber of Commerce study is credible are not complaining at the apparent waste of money on further research.

Over the coming week, compromise amendments may be prepared by the political groups, in advance of the Committee vote. However, it seems likely at this stage that the Legal Affairs Committee may adopt a report which is at odds with other recent decisions of the Parliament (such as in the telecoms package), which will necessitate an alternative resolution being put to the full plenary session in May. The outcome of that vote will inform the Commission's thinking as to the limits of its possible ambitions for the future Directive on criminal sanctions for IPR infringements.

International Chamber of Commerce: Building a Digital Economy: The Importance of Saving Jobs in the EU's Creative Industries
http://www.iccwbo.org/bascap/id35360/index.html

SSRC - Piracy and Jobs in Europe (22.03.2010)
http://blogs.ssrc.org/datadrip/?p=176

Counter project
http://www.counter2010.org/

(Contribution by Joe McNamee - EDRi)