Papers and Articles on Internet Policy

ACTA, SOPA & the EU - essential background

The Copyright Enforcement Enigma jacket

SOPA and PIPA have put Internet copyright into the mainstream news agenda. The Copyright Enforcement Enigma introduces you to this topic. It explains the history of copyright sanctions. It puts 3-strikes and blocking policies into context. And it unravels the strange story of how it all got mixed up in the Telecoms Package and Amendment 138. When you finish it, you will understand why the ISPs and fundamental rights are under attack! Click here to get it!

Telecoms Package 3rd Reading

The Telecoms Package went to a Third Reading in the European Parliament in the autumn of 2009.

The core issue related to the controversial Amendment 138, which was carried by the European Parliament, in the Second Reading vote on 6 May 2009.

Amendment 138 sought to protect the rights of Internet users in situations where governments or private operators might introduce measures which restrict their access to applications and services. Other parts of the Package, notably the Universal Services and Users Rights directive, contain provisions that were added as part of the "compromise" process, which will permit broadband operators to restrict users access to services and applications on the Internet. It also contains a provision which permits governments to order such restrictions.

This section of iptegrity.com monitored developments in the Third Reading of the Telecoms Package.

The text of the Parliament' Second Reading is available in all EU languages at the following URLs:

Framework, authorisation and access directives (Trautmann report )

Universal services and users rights directive (Harbour report)

Telecoms Package: the verdict

Monica Horten

Published on 13 November 2009

The Telecoms Package Conciliation Agreement should stop the worst of the Hadopi and 3-strikes measures, and it ring-fences what can be done by governments who wish to restrict the Internet. That is what the European Parliament intended. But there are some differences in the interpretation, as a trawl of experts, lobbyists and websites reveals.

European governments will find it harder to legislate for 3-strikes measures under the new Telecoms Package, although it may well go to the European Court before we can be 100% clear what is possible and what is not.

The European Parliament's rapporteur, Catherine Trautmann, speaking at the press conference on 5 November, was clear that the text was intended to block 3-strikes. "Now we have legal

Catherine Trautmann rewrites net neutrality policy

Monica Horten

Published on 09 November 2009

Catherine Trautmann, rapporteur for the Telecoms Package framework directive, has asked the European Commission to take a full review of net neutrality, and stated that it should be enshrined as a principle under EU law.

As the spotlight focussed on the replacement of Amendment 138, another element of the Telecoms Package agreement last week fell into the shadows. Regular iptegrity readers will know that a Declaration on Net Neutrality from the European Commission was also on the cards, and that I was somewhat critical of the way it had been written.

A re-worked version of the Declaration on Net Neutrality was also

Telecoms Package sealed, but not with a kiss

Monica Horten

Published on 05 November 2009

What is a ‘prior, fair and impartial procedure' and how far will it prevent British or French -style 3-strikes?

The Telecoms Package was sealed tonight, following what appears to have been a lengthy negotiation between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. A text was agreed last night at around 11pm Brussels time (see below). The European Parliament appears to have gained a