Negotiators in Paris are putting the final touches on a
controversial global
anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) that is expected to
criminalise the possession and use of copyright materials by
unlicensed owners.
The international deal is expected to be announced on Thursday
in Paris. ACTA, which the music and film and video industries
sponsored, aims at stopping illegal trade, including downloads, of
films, songs, games and software.
It has been thrashed out largely in secret. However, an early
proposal leaked to whistleblowing website Wikileaks showed that
the provisions allowed border control staff complete freedom to
seize, search and copy travellers' mobile phones, laptops and other
digital equipment, at random.
Since then, consultation documents and update statements
published by the Australian and New Zealand governments confirmed
the intention to criminalise the
illegal possession of copyright material. In the US, Congress
repealed laws that permitted searched without due cause.
The UK's Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is negotiating on
Britain's behalf. It has made no public statements on its
bargaining position or the agenda. However, its IP crime group
reported today that many UK firms are doing nothing to protect
their intellectual property. Many also turn a blind eye to possible
trade in counterfeit products on their premises.
Over a quarter of respondents do not make staff aware that they
must not
download illegal content at work, it said.
Ed Quilty, director of copyright and IP enforcement at the IPO,
said,
"
Intellectual property is central to the UK economy and
therefore businesses of all sizes cannot afford to be complacent in
respecting to its value."
Other findings
* 40% of businesses surveyed took no practical action such as
trademark registration or employee training to ensure their IP or
the IP of is protected.
* One-third were unaware whether goods sold on their premises by
external traders were legitimate or not.
* Of those who knew that employees were selling DVDs at work,
nearly one-fifth knew that they were counterfeit and still allowed
such illegal activity to take place.
* Nearly 30% of those who said they would not prevent employees
and colleagues from buying counterfeit goods at work took no action
because they said it was not their responsibility.