EU lawmaker call on online music rights rejected
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The European Parliament  called on Monday for binding rules to regulate the bloc&#39;s  online music market and protect less powerful artists, but the  proposal was rejected by the bloc&#39;s executive.
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Dozens of French musicians, intellectuals and politicians are criticizing what they call a "repressive" crackdown against those who download music illegally over the Internet.
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Internet access could be cut for people who illegally download music and videos  under government proposals.
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Will downloaders go to jail? The European Parliament's committee for legal affairs meets today to vote on proposals for criminal penalties to be imposed on those who infringe intellectual property (IP) rights.â¦
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The UK music industry is set to launch legal action against people who download music from the internet.
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Calls to ban hi-tech locks that limit what people can do with digital media have been rejected.
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As EU charter proclaims respect for data rights The European Parliament has condemned the EU's fondness for collecting personal information, mining and generating profiles in a resolution slamming the EU and national governments' approach to fighting terrorism.â¦
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Europe's top court on Tuesday dealt a blow to the defenders of authors' rights, upholding a Spanish Internet provider's refusal to reveal the identity of customers sharing music downloads.
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A Belgian Internet service provider has appealed a ruling that it must block illegal file-sharing on its network in a case that tests two European Union directives concerning copyright and the extent of responsibility that ISPs have for transmitted content.
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Stung by the backlash against increased royalties charged to Internet broadcasters, the music industry this week offered to give small online broadcasters a break. But the plan has been dismissed by the broadcasters, who favor legislation in Congress that would reduce Internet music royalties.
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MPs slam racket over sport and music as online firms are accused of collaborating
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European Union countries can refuse to  disclose names of file sharers on the Internet in civil cases,  the EU's top court said on Tuesday in a blow to copyright  holders trying to fight digital piracy.
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Blog: The international proposal backed by major broadcasters had drawn opposition from digital rights groups and librarians who said it would imperil the public's home and fair use rights.
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Rep. Mary Bono Mack says Congress shouldn't get in the way of Internet service providers that want to detect illegal sharing of copyrighted material.
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(InfoWorld) - A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) official has joined the debate surrounding Apple Computer's proprietary digital music technology by criticizing European antitrust activities, butÂ groups attacking AppleÂ are defending their actions. Speaking in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general at the DOJ's antitrust division, warned that forcing companies to reveal their intellectual property stifles innovation. He used Apple as an example, in a nod toÂ growing discontent in EuropeÂ regarding the way that music purchased from iTunes is tied to the iPod. Architects of complaints against Apple in Europe say he's got it wrong. "We're not attacking intellectual property rights but saying they should be implemented in a way which doesn't dictate which player you use," said Torgeir Waterhouse, a senior advisor with the Norwegian Consumer Council. His organization filed a complaint to Norway's consumer representative, or ombudsman, arguing that it's illegal for Apple to limit iTunes customers to playing music from the store exclusively on iPods. Along with similar representatives in Denmark and Sweden, the Norwegian ombudsman asked Apple toÂ defend its policy. In a written reply, Apple said it won't budge on the issue but the company plans to meet representatives from the countries later this month to further discuss the issue. If Apple won't open up, the ombudsman will take the company to court. Waterhouse suggests that Apple could solve the problem by licensing its digital rights management technology to other device makers so that iTunes customers could choose among devices or opt for an open standard that would be compatible with more devices. Barnett's criticisms of European antitrust policy, including comments that the policy is aimed at helping competitors instead of consumers, are generally in line with comments from U.S. officials since the Bush administration came to power, said Scott Megregian, a partner and head of the European competition group in the law firm McDermott Will & Emery UK. He disagrees with the argument that requiring companies to open up some of their technology stifles innovation. "That's an argument without support," he said. "Microsoft hasn't stopped innovating that I can tell despite regulations and attack by the E.U." So far, the European Commission has likely communicated with the countries that are pursuing Apple and has probably expressed an opinion on the matter, he said. While no official complaints have been filed with the Commission, if one is, the result will have the makings of a historical battle. "This has the potential to be the next big high-profile dispute," Megregian said.
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Those who illegally download movies and music could have their Internet service cut off under a forthcoming recommendation that could be used to craft legislation.
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Comment is free: Jonathan Steele: The EU must not relent to the siren voices who oppose the territory's path to independence.