A report to be voted this Wednesday in the European Parliament is trying to put the criminalisation of copyright onto the EU policy agenda. The so-called Gallo report wants to revive a mothballed directive on criminal measures for IPR enforcement and  to involve Europol in dealing with online infringement cases. In parallel, it  places a  strong call for graduated response measures which stands to contradict the Parliament's previously voted position in the Telecoms Package.  

So why do the Liberal (ALDE) group maintain support for it?

The Gallo report on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in the Internal Market does what it says in its title. It concerns European policy for copyright and other IP rights, and it has a particular interest in how these rights can be enforced on the Internet. It takes a hard line approach supporting graduated response, increased liability for broadband providers and places a strong call for criminal measures. It will be

Read more: European Parliament to vote on criminalising copyright infringement

A report that attempts to force the hand of the European Parliament on IPR enforcement  - including a possible weakening of the Telecoms Package outcome - has been temporarily stalled.

The Gallo report dealing with copyright and  IPR enforcement has been  stalled following a  vote today in the European Parliament in  Strasbourg. The   Parliament voted 140 to 135 in favour of postponing it until September, which will allow more time for scrutiny of the text.  

 The Gallo report, named after the rapporteur, Marielle Gallo,  is not a legislative proposal, and will not create any new laws. But it is important because it acts as  a lever in the political processes which will establish the European Parliament's position on IPR enforcement. It may be used to guide MEPs in future votes  on copyright and IPR enforcement matters, including the Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) .

 The Gallo report sets out a position which broadly favours stronger enforcement measures for IPR, including trademarks and counterfeit, and for copyright on the Internet. 'Enforcement' means measures such as 3-strikes,  website blocking, and other restrictions on Internet usage against allegations of copyright infringement.  The report  is written in the obscure language which is now becoming a familiar pattern, and it deals with

Read more: European Parliament report on IPR Enforcement stalled

The European Parliament is fighting again about copyright and the Internet. The Gallo report is attempting to get the Parliament to vote for a position that will open the way for stronger copyright enforcement measures,  in particular  against Internet users. The vote is tomorrow (Tuesday June 1st). 

 ***The vote was today in the Legal Affairs committee and it appears that they supported the rapporteur, which is not good news for Internet users. ***

Just 6 months after the Telecoms Package concluded, the European Parliament is again divided about copyright and the Internet. The issue is copyright enforcement, in respect of P2P file-sharing. As we saw in the Telecoms Package, the content industry is trying to get the Parliament to vote in  support of 3-strikes and other enforcement intiatives. The Parliament, better informed this time,  is fighting back.

 This time there is no legislation at stake. The argument is taking place in the context of a non-legislative report by the French, Sarkozy-ite MEP Marielle Gallo. However, non-legislative reports are used in the European Parliament to establish

Read more: Copyright fights reprise in the European Parliament