The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is intended to prevent the flow of counterfeit and pirated goods between nations. The treaty was first signed in Tokyo on October 1, 2011 by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, and Morocco, before 22 of the 27 EU member states signed in January 2012. The agreement has since come under increased scrutiny, and after being panned by high-level EC politicians, is on the brink of failure. The European Union will make its final decision on ACTA in June, and you can follow the whole story here.
Jul 4, 2012
EU Parliament rejects ACTA
The EU Parliament has today voted to reject the controversial Anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA).
Jun 21, 2012
ACTA fails to gain ITC approval, MEPs vote to reject controversial piracy treaty
The controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement has been voted against by the International Trade Committee.
Jun 1, 2012
Three out of four EU committees vote against ACTA
Three of the four committees in charge of making a recommendation to the ITC have decided not to approve the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
May 29, 2012
Dutch legislature takes stand against Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Dutch legislators have adopted a motion asking their government not to sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, an anti-piracy treaty that critics say threatens online freedom.
May 7, 2012
ACTA unlikely to happen, says European Commissioner
Neelie Kroes, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, said in a speech on Friday that ACTA was unlikely to happen.
Apr 24, 2012
ACTA 'highly intrusive' to individuals, says European Data Protection Supervisor
The European Data Protection Supervisor has given his opinion on ACTA, an anti-counterfeiting trade agreement which has been criticized in the past for its potential to invade an individual's privacy.
Feb 22, 2012
ACTA sent to European Court of Justice over 'rights and freedoms' concerns
The European Union is planning to bring the controversial ACTA agreement before the European Court of Justice in order to determine its legality.
Jan 27, 2012
Polish lawmakers protest ACTA with Anonymous Guy Fawkes masks
Polish politicians from Palikot's Movement donned the Guy Fawkes masks popularized by Anonymous to protest their country's signing of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
Jan 26, 2012
22 EU member nations sign ACTA intellectual property agreement
The EU and 22 of its member nations signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) today, completing a necessary step before final ratification by the European Parliament in June. There is some public outcry, and perhaps misunderstanding about how it'll change the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
