The three committees are Legal Affairs (JURI), Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).

ITRE had previously recommended that it be rejected, and the proposal to that effect was written up by Pirate MEP Amelia Andersdotter and was voted on today. It passed 31 to 25

Meanwhile, the “pro-ACTA” proposal by author and lawyer Marielle Gallo (France, Modern Left party) was defeated narrowly in the JURI vote, 12 to 10 with 2 abstentions. Their new proposal will now be written by Evelyn Regner (Austria, Social Democrat)

The biggest defeat for ACTA came in the LIBE committee, where the proposal that ACTA did not comply with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights passed 36-1 with 21 abstentions. Their concern, stated in the EU press release on the topic, noted that any agreement should “ensure full respect for private life or full protection of sensitive personal information” and that “ACTA entails various layers of ambiguity” where fundamental rights are concerned.

One last committee, the Third World Development Committee (DEVE) is left to give their recommendation, which will happen June 4^th. INTA is due to make their own vote on June 21^st, before it then goes to the full Parliament in early July, which Rick Falkvinge has termed the “end-of-level boss fight”

These three votes may not be a knockout punch yet, but they increase the likelihood of the EU rejecting ACTA, which could leave it dead in the water.

Source: TorrentFreak, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing and anonymous VPN services.

After Lily Allen stirred up a file-sharing hornet’s nest with her anti-piracy rhetoric, Dan put together ‘Dear Lily‘. This open letter received several hundred thousand views on YouTube alone and a month later Dan followed it up with a dressing down of Peter Mandelson over the Digital Economy Act.

In recognition of his ability to connect with an audience, Midlands-based Dan was soon commissioned by ISP TalkTalk to create a track to protest against the proposed disconnection of file-sharers.

Now, just over 6 months later he’s back again with a brand new track. ACTA is in the spotlight this time and as usual, Dan takes his subject matter apart with insightful and often biting lyrics delivered with expert clarity and timing.

But before we get our first taste of the track D.O.A.C.T.A (Death of ACTA) with its accompanying video, here is Dan with some thoughts on the Treaty.

TF: What are your feelings on how ACTA has developed and where it appears to be going?

Dan: ACTA is being worked on behind closed doors, in a totally undemocratic fashion. What we’ve seen so far is very worrying though. It’s clearly been put together by people who don’t know or care how the internet works. Not only that, but it means that you can be punished for a newly created crime without any evidence that you’ve committed it. Just an accusation from an industry lawyer is enough – and we’ve already seen with ACS Law how irresponsible and inaccurate they are. Do we really want companies like ACS Law given the power of judge, jury and executioner?

However, it’s not too late to contact your representatives in government – start putting the pressure on and let them know this kind of secret, unelected and irresponsible policy making is unacceptable.

TF: Do you think that ACTA will actually change anything?

Dan: It’s not going to change things in the way it’s meant to. Filesharing and piracy will carry on as before – the law is always one step behind technology. The only thing ACTA will do is stifle innovation and communication. How could sites like YouTube and Flickr exist if the owners of those sites are held liable for everything their users upload? It’s like saying that Bic is responsible if someone writes a death threat using one of their pens. It’s a load of bollocks.

The funny thing is that the entertainment industry is only a fraction of the size of the technology and communications industry. Yet this tiny sector is managing to force through ridiculously backward protectionist laws that make things harder for everyone else except themselves.

TF: How do you feel that the people will respond to ACTA’s introduction?

Dan: I can’t imagine there are many people outside the entertainment industry who support it. In fact I’m surprised the technology sector hasn’t rallied together to fight against it. People who don’t know the facts about it should be told, and people who know the facts should be gravely concerned.

TF: Do you think that legislation has the ability to mould and control people’s behavior and creativity?

Dan: Yes, but only in useless ways. Filesharers won’t be swayed, they’ll just find other ways to carry on doing what they were doing before. ACTA is going to damage creativity though – pretty much all creative work is derivative of previous work, so by criminalising copyright infringement, ACTA will bring us into a ridiculous situation where all artists are criminals. Even walking to work whilst whistling a tune you heard on the radio is technically an unauthorised performance of a copyrighted work, and once ACTA is in place, it’s a crime you could theoretically go to prison for.

TF: Tell us a little about the video that accompanies the song.

Dan: The video was filmed at The Golden Hinde in London, which is a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship. My friend Russ Houghton came up with the pirate ship concept, and also produced and directed the video, with the help of a couple of his colleagues, who work in television. Thanks very much to them for helping out.

TF: Cheers for chatting with us Dan, keep up the good work.

The MP3 of D.O.A.C.T.A can be downloaded here and you can follow Dan on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Beer money gratefully accepted here, along with any spare Flattrs.

Source: TorrentFreak, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing and anonymous VPN services.