The European Parliament adopted an overbroad Directive on Intellectual Property Enforcement that gives rightsholders powerful new enforcement tools to use against intellectual property infringers. EFF opposed the proposed Directive because it did not distinguish between unintentional, non-commercial infringement by consumers and for-profit criminal counterfeiting enterprises.
“Under this Directive, a person who unwittingly infringes copyright – even if it has no effect on the market – could potentially have her assets seized, bank accounts frozen, and home invaded,” said EFF staff attorney Gwen Hinze.