The European Parliament has rejected by a wide majority a controversial global pact to battle counterfeiting and online piracy.
A total of 478 deputies in the parliament rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), while 39 voted in favor and another 165 abstained.
The treaty seeks to establish global standards against counterfeit goods, non-licensed generic medicines, and online piracy.
But it is criticized by opponents as being too vaguely worded and thus open to interpretations that could unduly curtail Internet freedom.
Twenty-two of the 27 EU states as well as other countries, including the United States and Japan, signed the ACTA in January, but the treaty has yet to be ratified anywhere.
A total of 478 deputies in the parliament rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), while 39 voted in favor and another 165 abstained.
The treaty seeks to establish global standards against counterfeit goods, non-licensed generic medicines, and online piracy.
But it is criticized by opponents as being too vaguely worded and thus open to interpretations that could unduly curtail Internet freedom.
Twenty-two of the 27 EU states as well as other countries, including the United States and Japan, signed the ACTA in January, but the treaty has yet to be ratified anywhere.
