Protests Spread Over New Anti-Piracy Laws

Protesters in Britain and Europe have braved bitterly cold conditions to protest against implementation of EU-wide anti-piracy legislation.

According to activists a crowd of several hundred gathered outside the British Music House near London's Oxford Circus, with dozens of protests elsewhere across the eurozone.

The demonstrators voiced their opposition to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta), which seeks to establish international protection of intellectual property (IP).

Website designer Jon Worth, 31, told Sky News Online: "It was negotiated in secret without adequate parliamentary scrutiny.

"It is very important that the matter of digital rights is taken more seriously. In a number of European countries it is higher up the agenda than it is here."

IP protection is seen by technologically advanced nations as a way to thwart copyright piracy in sectors such as fashion, entertainment, pharmaceuticals and computer software.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development believes IP infringements cost the global economy $250bn (£160bn) per year.

But opponents see the legislation restricting internet freedoms, with possible closure of websites without court orders.

"The difficulty we face is that the text has been agreed so protest is late in the day," Mr Worth, who is active in Labour party, said.

Britain's Intellectual Property Office said in a statement: "Acta is not about how people use the internet in their everyday lives. It is not the intention of Acta to restrict freedom of the internet and it will not censor websites."

The Metropolitan Police told Sky News Online that the London protest took place without any arrests being made.

The Acta agreement, negotiated between the EU, Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, Singapore and the United States, needs all 27 EU countries to ratify the deal.

But on Friday Germany halted signing the controversial accord, saying it needed more time to consider it, while Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have frozen their ratification process.

"There has been mounting protests in the last few weeks, so we hope Acta will not enter into force," Mr Worth said.

"Politicians need to pay more attention to the issue of digital rights."

The recent arrest in New Zealand of several people behind the Megaupload file-sharing service, done at the request of the FBI, has been seen by some critics as spreading IP protection power.

In December and January the US department of justice and FBI also closed down hundreds of China-based websites selling replica sporting apparel and designer handbags.

Proposed US introduction of the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) has also caused widespread opposition, with thousands of websites including Wikipedia and Google raising concerns.

Hacktivists have also claimed attacks on official websites, such as record companies and trade associations, they see as supporting Sopa and Acta.