Big tech accountability? Read the backstory to today's policy debates here on Iptegrity.

IPR Enforcement

IPR enforcement on the Internet is highly contrversial as measures may entail some form of content blocking and impose new liabilities on ISPs and content platforms. Blocking measures immediately engage the right to freedom of expression.

This section monitors aspects of EU policy which relate to IPR and copyright enforcement from 2009. It covers a variety of industry-led proposals, including early moves against Internet providers. Iptegrity provided almost exclusive coverage of the European Commission's proposed Notice and Action Directive. It was subsequently shelved - but will it re-appear? The section also logs industry moves which may influence the policy agenda and seeks to understand ways in which European IPR enforcement policy could change or evolve.

If you like the articles in this section and you are interested in copyright enforcement policy in the EU, you may like my books A Copyright Masquerade: How Corporate Lobbying Threatens Online Freedoms and The Copyright Enforcement Enigma - Internet Politics and the 'Telecoms Package'

You might also like my latest book 'The Closing of the Net' which examins corporate power and Internet policy, including 3 chapters on copyright.

The European Commission has confirmed that is is looking at a Europe-wide approach to intellectual property enforcement on the Internet. In light of its ACTA defeat, the Commission is being deliberately ambiguous as to the nature of the measures under consideration. But could it mean pan-European web blocks?

Read more: EU puts fast-track IPR enforcement on the map

For those who missed it, the European Commission consultation on IPR enforcment (IPRED directive) closed yesterday. It's a very odd closing date, being Easter Sunday and a public holiday throughout the EU, and also being the day before April Fools day. Does it make you suspicious? One quick glance at the IPRED consultation questionnaire should tell you - it is seriously problematic.

Read more: European Commission copyright consultation is no April Fool

That is not what it said, but it is what is meant.

The European Union is putting copyright and IPR enforcement on the back burner until 2014. It means that 3-strikes, notice and action, and other enforcement measures currently the subject of proposed legislation, are not expected before then. This follows the EU's fanfare announcement this week about stakeholder dialogues on innovative solutions for the digital economy. The announcement comes in the same week as the European Commission has withdrawn its referral of ACTA to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Read more: EU puts IPR enforcement on the back burner

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About Iptegrity

Iptegrity.com is the website of Dr Monica Horten.

I am a tech policy specialist, published author, post-doctoral scholar. I hold a PhD from the University of Westminster, and a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Currently working on UK Online Safety Bill.

Recent media quotes: BBC, iNews, Times, Guardian, Politico.  Panelist: IAPP,  CybersecuritySummit. Parliament and Internet. June 2022-July 2023 w/ Open Rights Group.

Iptegrity.com is made available free of charge for non-commercial use. Please link back and attribute Dr Monica Horten.  Contact me to use any of my content for commercial purposes.