Brussels, 10/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - MEPs want to toughen up protection of International Property Rights (IPL) in Europe.
By adopting the own initiative report by Pavel Svoboda (EPP, Czech Republic) by a large majority on Tuesday 9 June, Parliament is effectively calling for the introduction of a comprehensive legal framework that takes into account the online environment, in an effort to improve the fight against counterfeit products.
The report follows a communication published by the European Commission in July 2014. The rapporteur explained: “My intention was to draft a balanced report that would exclusively focus on the Commission's action plan”.
Among Parliament's key proposals in the document is a request for introducing a more extensive strategy to tackle counterfeiting, by introducing a comprehensive legal framework that takes into account Internet related problems. This would be done in respect of fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as data protection.
The report calls on all the different actors in the supply chain to be involved in the fight against IPR infringements and “rights violations perpetrated both on and off-line”. In this connection, the document seeks to strengthen market surveillance, improve coordination between customs services at European and international levels and ensure that these measures have a limited impact on the business activities of SMEs.
MEPs also underline the importance of having access to the legal system, particularly for SMEs and call for the setting up of mediation services and extrajudicial mechanisms for settling litigation between companies in the IPR arena.
MEPs are also highlighting the need to improve communication on the subject to European citizens and organise campaigns raising awareness about IPR violations. Svoboda explained: “We need effective campaigns, especially among the younger generation, as these could at least help us to better understand the big change which is happening, especially in the digital environment”. He also said he was “convinced that the Commission will be able to incorporate the ideas (from the report: Ed) in the concrete legislative proposal before July 2016”. (Pascal Hansens)