Re: [d@DCC] EU adopts IP enforcement directives

From: Neil Leyton <leyton _-at-_ fadingwaysmusic.com>
To: General Discussion <discuss (at) digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 15:33:14 -0500
References: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0403131459420.28265-100000@calcutta.flora.ca>

Well, clearly, when the bill is introduced (fast-track "first reading") 
via an MEP that is married to the head of the Universal Music Group, 
that raises some conflict of interest questions doesn't it?

>
>  I don't see evidence this is about "corporate interests" or "business
>interests" vs. citizen interests. It is useful to be careful in this forum
>as, while we may all share certain policy ideas, we are not going to share
>others.
>
In any other cirumstance when a spouse is running a company whose 
interests rest squarely on the passing of a bill, it would be useful for 
her to have abstained from such a vote to maintain political 
intergrity... call me idealistic here, but that's how I feel. Instead 
Madame Janelly Fortou (French MEP) championed it from start to finish...

>  There are a very few politically powerful beneficiaries of these policy
>proposals we disagree with, with the vast majority of the economy
>(including the vast majority of business/corporate interests) being the
>losers.  Applying partisan or left/right politics to this problem only
>allows our political opponents to divide and conquer us when we need to be
>joining people together of all political persuasions to fix these
>problems.
>
This is a good point. But, when the only MEP that wrote me back with 
regards to the EU plenary on IP was a Portuguese PCP (Communist Party) 
member, it illustrates the point that, at least on this vote, the only 
people that voted against the IP Enforcement Directive were MEPs from 
the left.

Now, essentially, I believe in what both Russell and Kristofer have 
said. But we must also not fall into the trap of being too lenient on 
politicians who are lining their pockets or otherwise benefitting 
financially from the bills they introduce into parliament, I mean, they 
are supposed to be public servants and should be accountable to the public.

>  If there is one thing I have learned in the past few years of political
>activism is that it is important to have coalitions on policy ideas with
>people who you may otherwise not agree with. 
>
Great point.

N.

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