IP Justice: Strasbourg Artists and Consumers Rally for Digital Rights 2004

ARTISTS AND CONSUMERS:
RALLY FOR DIGITAL RIGHTS
8 MARCH 2004
EU PARLIAMENT BUILDING
STRASBOURG, FRANCE

What: Rally against Europe's "DMCA on Steroids!" Join in the rally to protect consumer rights to urge the EU Parliament to REJECT the bloated Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive or to VOTE for the FIPR/Cappato Amendments (html) (doc) that protect consumers from over-zealous enforcement of intellectual property rights.

When: Monday, 8 March 2004, between 16:30 - 18:30 (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm) as MEPs enter the Parliament Building on the eve of the final EU Plenary vote on the directive.

Where: Immediately outside the EU Parliament Building, Strasbourg, France. Meet and rally at main entrance of Louise Weiss Building (map)

Who: Every artist, consumer, and citizen of the European Union is urged to attend to protect their digital rights and traditional civil liberties.

Why: The controversial EU IP Rights Enforcement Directive is scheduled for debate and vote on 9 March 2004. This rally is our last chance to protect Europeans against this dangerously over broad directive. And it feels good to fight back! See the "Top 8 Reasons to Reject the EU Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive" and other organizational statements analyzing the directive.

Why Artists Oppose the EU Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive:

Artist statement from John Perry Barlow, songwriter for The Grateful Dead
Artist statement from Michael Franti, leader of the band, Spearhead
Artist statement from Alberto Cottica, songwriter with Fiamma Fumana
Word file of artist statements from Cottica, Franti, and Barlow
Also related: Artist Janis Ian statements on the protection of intellectual property rights

Organizational Sponsors: IP Justice, EDRi, FIPR, FFII, and other CODE Coalition Members

Media Information: Press conference (Photos now available) will be held at 11:30am - 12:00pm on Tuesday, 9 March at EU Press Facility. Note: Final EU Plenary Vote will be held at 12:00pm (immediately after press conference). Press conference speakers include MEP Marco Cappato and other MEPs supporting the FIPR/Cappato Amendments, representatives from FIPR, EDRi, FFII, IP Justice, BUEC, EBLIDA and more. See CODE Rally Media Release at http://www.ipjustice.org/CODE/release20040308_en.shtml

Photos Now Available Here

Last updated 12 March 2004

More information:

For a list of all reports, media releases, analysis and statements, and more p lease see the Campaign for an Open Digital Environment (CODE) site (available at http://www.ipjustice.org/CODE/). CODE is a coalition of 50 international civil liberties organizations and consumers' rights campaigns concerned about the impact on civil liberties, innovation, and competition posed by the proposed IP Rights Enforcement Directive.

Check back at this page and the IP Justice home page (www.ipjustice.org) for updates, photos, and news.