EU: TV pirates beware

The EP has adopted a report on television piracy. Its author, Georgios Anastassopoulos (EPP, GR) reminded fellow MEPs that it has been a year since the EP gave the Commission the green light to take action against piracy of “conditional access” services. He welcomed the speedy reaction by the Commission and much of what they were proposing. Replying for the Commission, Commissioner Mario Monti emphasised the importance of protecting radio and TV broadcasters and suppliers of new services against bootlegging. He stated that pay-per-view TV had triggered a big industry in piracy and that the EU was becoming a refuge for such pirates. The Directive was an attempt to respond to this problem. In adopting this report the EP has called on MS to ban the manufacture, maintenance, import, advertising, sale, and possession for commercial purposes of such devices.