WIPO meeting ends in disarray as EU rejects international solution to library and archive copyright problems

[Media Release] [Additional Quotes] Discussions by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights (SCCR) broke down in the early hours of Saturday morning 3 May, after the European Union (EU) attempted to block future discussion of copyright laws to aid libraries and archives fulfill their missions in the digital …

EU: Europe’s role in shaping the future of Internet Governance

Press Release: EU Commission to pursue role as honest broker in future global negotiations on Internet Governance In the wake of large-scale Internet surveillance and reduced trust in the internet, the European Commission today proposes a key reform to the way the Internet is managed and run. The proposal calls for more transparent, accountable and …

EU, Google reach deal on competition remedies

The EU and Google agreed Wednesday on how to settle complaints the US Internet giant is squeezing competitors in Europe’s search market, avoiding legal action and billions in fines. “I believe that the new proposal obtained from Google after long and difficult talks can now address the Commission’s concerns,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said. …

German justice minister Heiko Mass seeks to further delay implementation of EU data retention laws

Germany is to further delay its implementation of the Data Retention Directive despite facing potential financial penalties of more than €300,000 for each day it fails to transpose it into national law, according to media reports. The country previously implemented the 2006 Directive but a court in the country ruled in 2010 that it was …

EU’s patience is running out, as massive antitrust fines loom over Google

Summary: The European antitrust chief is tapping is foot. He’s still not at all happy with Google. Google’s latest settlement package from October still isn’t enough to appease regulators, who are eyeing a $5 billion fine or a partial block of its business in the 28 member state bloc as a backup last resort. EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia …

European Commission To Develop Global Internet Policy Platform

The European Commission today announced plans for a Global Internet Policy Observatory (GIPO), an online platform to improve knowledge and participation on issues related to global internet policymaking. The GIPO would “act as a clearinghouse for monitoring Internet policy, regulatory and technological developments across the world,” according to a Commission press release. The platform would monitor internet-related …

ACTA gets final stake through heart as EC drops court referral

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement can no longer come back from the grave in Europe, after the European Commission dropped its bid to have the copyright treaty’s legality confirmed by the union’s top court. Parliamentarians roundly rejected ACTA back in July. They had many reasons for doing so, primarily the large physical demonstrations taking place across …