EU will force ACTA to open up

No secret negotiations, no three strikes

The European Parliament has told the shady cabal of politicians and entertainment industry insiders currently working behind closed doors on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to open up its secret negotiations to MEPs and the public, or face the full might of the European Court of Justice.

MEPs voted 633 to 13 to force the organisation to "grant public and parliamentary access to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiation texts". The resolution also said that MEPs should be "fully informed in good time about their initiatives".

In a move to prevent customs officers being able to search, and even possibly confiscate, electronic devices which might contain copyrighted materials, MEPs also called for an impact assessment to be carried out with regard to fundamental rights and data protection and demand that no personal searches be conducted at EU borders.

Parliament also requests "full clarification of any clauses that would allow for warrantless searches and confiscation of information storage devices such as laptops, cell phones and MP3 players by border and customs authorities".

Finally, MEPs want to ensure that the agreement does not make it possible for any 'three-strikes' procedures to be imposed.