Dear Member of the European Parliament,
Over the recent weeks, we have seen coordinated attacks on the websites of democratic institutions such as the European Parliament and national governments over ACTA. The signatories to this letter and their members stand against such attempts to silence the democratic process. Instead, we call for a calm and reasoned assessment of the facts rather than the misinformation circulating. A considered reaction is more important than ever at a time when many outside of Europe doubt the ability of the European Union institutions and its Member State governments to act together.
The signatories of this letter represent thousands of European companies of all sizes and millions of workers in dozens of sectors crucial to the European economy, which are eager to get Europe out of the current economic crisis by promoting innovation and growth-enhancing measures. We are all dependent on intellectual property.
ACTA is good for Europe. Without changing EU law, it establishes common procedures for dealing with IPR infringements across countries accounting for 50% of world trade. The framework set up by ACTA will have a positive impact on protecting Europe’s industries, jobs and people. ACTA will have no negative consequences as it does not depart from EU law – as confirmed by two opinions of the European Parliament’s Legal Service as well as the European Commission. It is important to show that Europe is united and has trust in its institutions and government processes. That is why ACTA is supported by all the organisations and companies below, as well as 22 European Member States who joined the EU in the first step towards ratification.
We therefore urge you to focus on the facts and not the misinformation and to support ACTA. ACTA is an international cooperation project that will protect Europe’s rights and people and will confirm the EU’s global importance as a responsible trading partner. For Europe to have a successful knowledge economy and manufacturing base it must protect its workers, creators and the innovations of its manufacturers and industries abroad. The ACTA treaty sends an important message to third countries and to Europe’s workforce that our rights must be protected in practice, and that Europe will not fall behind other countries in this regard. This is a crucial moment for Europe’s governments and institutions in their effort to safeguard Europe’s jobs and economic future. Failure to do so will irrevocably affect Europe’s credibility as a trusted global trade partner.
We thank you for your support on this crucial issue:
ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers Association
ACG - Anti-Counterfeiting Group
ACT – Association of Commercial Television
AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori
AIM – European Brands Association Alliance Against IP Theft
ANDEMA – Spanish Association for Defence of the Trademark
APM – Aktionskreis gegen Produkt- und Markenpiraterie
AFP - Associacao Fonografica Portugesa
AGPP - Association of Greek Producers of Phonograms
BAMP – Bulgarian Association of Music Producers
BASCAP - Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy
BBB - Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels
BEA - Belgian Entertainment Association
BIEM – Mechanical Rights Societies
BPI - British Phonographic Industry
BREIN - Protection Rights Entertainment Industry Netherlands
BBA – Bulgarian Book Association
BVA - British Video Association
BVMI – Bundesverband Musikindustrie
BVV – Bundesverband Audiovisuelle Medien e.V.
CELC - European Linen and Hemp Confederation
CEPI TV - European Coordination of Independent TV Producers
CEPS – European Spirits Organisation
CIE - Consejo Intertextil espanol /Spanish Textile and Clothing Industry
CIPR - Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights
CISAC - International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers
EACA – European Association of Communications Agencies
ECTA - European Communities Trademark Association
EIBF - European and International Booksellers Federation
EGEDA – Spanish Audiovisual Producers
EPC - European Publishers Council
EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Confederation
EUROCINEMA – Association of Film and Television Producers
EUROCORD - European Liaison Committee of Twine, Rope and Netting Industries
EUROCOPYA - European organisation of movie and television producers' collecting societies
EUROCOTON - Federation of the Cotton and Allied Textile Industries of the EU
FAMA - Fachverband der Film- und Musikindustrie
FDA – Film Distributors Assocaition
FEP-FEE - Federation of European Publishers /Fédération des éditeurs européens
FER - Federation of Romanian Publishers
FESI – Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry
FFE - Filmforgalmazók Egyesülete / Hungarian Film Distributors Association
FGEE - Federación de Gremios de Editores de España
FIAPF - Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films
FIAD - International Federation of Film Distributors Associations
FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana
GEMA – German Authors and Composers
GESAC – European Authors and Composers Societies
GESAMTVERBAND TEXTIL + MODE - Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry
HVB – Austrian Book Publishers Association
ICC DEUTSCHLAND - Internationale Handelskammer (ICC) Deutschland I
CMP - International Confederation of Music Publishers
IFPI – Representing the Recording Industry Worldwide
ILEC - Institut de Liaisons et d’Etudes des Industries de Consommation
IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association
INDICAM – Instituto di Centromarca per la lotta Contraffazione
INTA – International Trademark Association
IRMA - Irish Recorded Music Association
ISFE – Interactive Software Federation of Europe
IVF – International Video Federation
MAHASZ - Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége
MARKENVERBAND - German Branded Businesses Association
MODINT – Trade Association for Fashion, Interior Design, Carpets and Textiles
MVKE – Magyarországi Videókiadók Egyesülete / Hungarian Video Association NV – Nederlands Uitgeversverbond
NVPI – Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld
PIK – Polska Izba Ksiazki / Polish Chamber of Books
PRODUZENTENALLIANZ – German TV and Film Producers Alliance
PROMUSICAE – Productores de Música de España
SACG – Swedish Anti-Counterfeiting Group
SNE – Syndicat National de L'Edition
SNEP – Syndicat National de l'édition Phonographique
SROC – Sports Rights Owners Coalition
TIE –Toy Industries of Europe
TABD – Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue
TUOTOS – Finnish Audiovisual Producers
UFIM – Union Française des Industries de la Mode / French Association of Clothing Manufacturers
UIT – French Textile Industries
UK PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
UNIC – Union Internationale des Cinémas / International Union of Cinemas
UNIFAB – Union des Fabricants
UNIVIDEO – Italian Union of Audiovisual Publishers
VdF -- Verband der Filmverleiher / Association of German Film Distributors
VG Bild-Kunst – German Visual Artists, Photographers and Graphic Designers Organisation
VKE – German Cosmetics Manufacturers
VPRT – Association of German Commercial Broadcasters and Audiovisual Services
VSC – Video Standards Council
VUV – Flemish Book Publishers’ Association
ZPAV – Polish Audiovisual Producers
More organisations being added List current as of 20 February 2012, 11 am