☏ URGENT: Has Your MEP Signed The ACTA Written Declaration?

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Simon Phipps

Geeks Vote Too logoHere is a list of MEPs for UK constituencies. As of now, none of these MEPs has signed the Written Declaration on ACTA.It’s entirely possible one of them is representing you – or rather, failing to do so.

Since we now only need nine more signatures in the next two days to enact this Written Declaration (which is not extreme – it makes very reasonable statements about the European Parliament’s attitude towards ACTA), you can make a real difference by calling your MEP or if you prefer using WriteToThem, and asking them to sign the Declaration so that the attempt at an end-run round democracy is rejected by the Parliament. You might want to say something like:

As a constituent I am worried that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement that’s being secretly negotiated internationally may well use a treaty to impose terms that have neither been discussed nor agreed by you in the European Parliament. Please will you sign Written Declaration 12/2010 right away (before it expires on Wednesday night) so that the Commission knows that the Parliament will not accept a fait accomplis?

The following had NOT signed at 11pm UK time on Monday:

  • William (The Earl of) DARTMOUTH
  • John Stuart AGNEW
  • Marta ANDREASEN
  • Richard ASHWORTH
  • Gerard BATTEN
  • Godfrey BLOOM
  • Sharon BOWLES
  • Philip BRADBOURN
  • John BUFTON
  • Martin CALLANAN
  • David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
  • Michael CASHMAN
  • Giles CHICHESTER
  • Derek Roland CLARK
  • Trevor COLMAN
  • Nirj DEVA
  • Diane DODDS
  • James ELLES
  • Nigel FARAGE
  • Vicky FORD
  • Ashley FOX
  • Julie GIRLING
  • Daniel HANNAN
  • Mary HONEYBALL
  • Richard HOWITT
  • Stephen HUGHES
  • Syed KAMALL
  • Sajjad KARIM
  • Timothy KIRKHOPE
  • Elizabeth LYNNE
  • David MARTIN
  • Linda McAVAN
  • Arlene McCARTHY
  • Emma McCLARKIN
  • Claude MORAES
  • Mike NATTRASS
  • James NICHOLSON
  • Paul NUTTALL
  • Brian SIMPSON
  • Peter SKINNER
  • Struan STEVENSON
  • Catherine STIHLER
  • Kay SWINBURNE
  • Charles TANNOCK
  • Geoffrey VAN ORDEN
  • Derek VAUGHAN
  • Glenis WILLMOTT
  • Marina YANNAKOUDAKIS

If you can’t remember who your MEPs are, open WriteToThem in a new tab or window, enter your postcode and check down the list. If you’re in Europe but outside the UK, the list on Quadrature can be sorted by country for you to check.

Filed under: ACTA | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

☞ Innovation, and how to prevent it

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Simon Phipps
  • The VC-free startup
    The trend for VC-free startups is strong, and Dale’s article makes for interesting reading. ForgeRock is another example of a VC-free startup, and I’d say we fit Dale’s profile pretty well. This is not to say we will never seek investment now we’re bootstrapped, of course, but the idea of a VC-funded company aiming solely at an exit to recoup the initial investment was one we all disliked.

  • Take Heed, Tech Giants: Edison’s Failed Plot To Hijack Hollywood

    Well worth taking the time to read this story of the attempt by Thomas Edison to take control of the nascent movie industry using patent suits, an industry association as a heavy-handed enforcer and then a patent pool as the weapon against any company daring to innovate or meet actual customer demand.

    Yes, there is nothing new in the actions of Paul Allen, the RIAA and BSA or of MPEG-LA, it’s all been done before. Reading this really leaves me wondering why massive patent and copyright reform haven’t both happened already.

Filed under: Links | Comments Off on ☞ Innovation, and how to prevent it

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