Join Free Speech Debate and ARTICLE 19 in London on Thursday 3 May for a panel discussion on the impact of ACTA on global free expression
From SOPA in the US to the Sinde-Wert law in Spain, the past year has seen a succession of anti-piracy bills being pushed by governments and corporations alike. One of the most criticised is the secretly negotiated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a plurilateral treaty that aims to develop a set of international standards for the enforcement of intellectual property protection.
Advocates of the agreement maintain the legislation will combat counterfeit and pirated goods while fighting large scale and organised infringements of intellectual property. Its detractors argue that the hazily worded bill will stifle freedom of expression and privacy and can rather stifle innovation and creativity than advance it. Critics have further taken issue with the secrecy that shrouded the talks leading to the agreement. As it stands, ACTA has been signed, but not ratified, by 22 EU members.
Join Free Speech Debate and ARTICLE 19 for a panel discussion on the impact of ACTA on human rights and the internet. Panellists include Andrew Murray, professor of law at the London School of Economics; Amelia Andersdotter, a member of European Parliament for the Pirate Party; Philippe Aigrain, co-founder of La Quadrature du Net; Barbora Bukovska, senior director for law and policy at Article 19. Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European Studies at Oxford University and director of Free Speech Debate, will chair the event.
Please RSVP Rose Obianwu rose@article19.org or tweet @article19org to confirm attendance.
