Author: Joop Beris

  • David Martin: “Say no to ACTA”

    David Martin: “Say no to ACTA”

    In a rather surprising statement from David Martin, the new rapporteur on ACTA and chairman of the EU International Trade Committee, he urges the rejection of the controversial ACTA agreement, stating that the benefits of the agreement do not way up against the concerns surrounding ACTA. The statement is surprising, because mr. Martin has in…

  • The fork or the crossroads?

    The fork or the crossroads?

    We live in interesting times. Economic crisis, social upheaval, collapsing companies, rampant consumerism, revolutions, government crackdown, disappearing privacy and globalisation. It feels like there is a pressure building and like all pressure, it’s going to have to find a way out. It is my opinion that we are standing on the fork or a crossroads,…

  • ACTA stakeholder hearing on April 11

    ACTA stakeholder hearing on April 11

    Today, I received an email from Marietje Schaake, MEP and member of the INTA committee. She announced that she is organizing a stakeholder hearing concerning ACTA on April 11, since too many half-truths have been spread concerning ACTA, according to her.

  • Free speech

    Free speech

    Supporting free speech goes beyond tolerating different opinions to exist. It means allowing someone who holds a diametrically opposed view to your own, to finish speaking. — Me

  • ACTA does NOT move to European Court of Justice

    ACTA does NOT move to European Court of Justice

    A little more than a month since it became known that ACTA would be moving to the European Court of Justice, it has become known that ACTA will not move to the European Court of Justice after all but remains scheduled for a vote by the European Parliament in June. Confused yet? You need not…

  • Copyright math

    Copyright math

    One of the best explanations I have seen and heard about how exaggerated the claims of the entertainment industry are, when they claim lost profits and damage to the economy. If you have 6 minutes, you’ll gain a lot of insight!