Strasbourg, 25/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament gave its backing to the first European legislation imposing criminal sanctions for intellectual property rights infringements, when it adopted the first-reading report by Nicola Zingaretti (PES, Italy) by 374 votes to 278, with 17 abstentions. MEPs thus endorsed the overall aim of the Commission proposal, to harmonise national criminal laws on the matter. Once definitively approved by the Parliament and Council, the directive will require all 27 EU member states to treat any intentional infringement of intellectual property law carried out on a commercial scale as a criminal offence. According to the Commission, the range of counterfeit goods - such as cars, cosmetics, music and films - is increasing in the EU and is closely linked to organised crime. “It is a threat and danger to the European economy,” Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen told MEPs during the debate on Monday 23 April. This threat has risen through use of the internet. The deterrent measures proposed range from fines to imprisonment, depending to the seriousness of the crime. For serious crimes committed by a criminal organisation, the maximum penalty will be a fine of at least €300,000 and/or four years' imprisonment. The same applies where offences threaten health or safety. For less serious infringements, the maximum penalties should include criminal and civil fines of at least €100,000. Aiding or abetting and inciting anyone to infringe intellectual property rights will also be treated as a criminal offence. In some cases, sanctions could include the seizure and destruction of counterfeit goods. MEPs sought, however, to amend some parts of the text. They excluded patent rights from the scope of the directive and decided that criminal sanctions should only apply to infringements deliberately carried out to gain commercial advantage. Piracy committed by private users for personal, non-profit purposes; was therefore also excluded. “It is about punishing mafia-style criminals, not about jailing kids who download music from the internet,” said Ms Zingaretti. The proposed directive reflects the “Community” and “non intergovernmental” interpretation the Commission gave to the judgment delivered on 13 September 2005 by the Court of Justice of the European Communities (see EUROPE 9026). The text adopted by the EP will now be sent to the Council for discussion by national governments. (bc)