Of course you can't make head or tail of it -- it relates to EU legislation; you're not supposed to have a clue what it means until you've cross-referenced it against at least 100 other documents mined from the black heart of europa.eu, drunk somewhere approaching the LD50 of tea, and sworn profusely in all three working languages of the European Commission (and a smattering of the remaining official languages of the EU as well for good measure).
All the amendments have gone through (although the whole package has still to be voted on), but it's not at all clear that the directives would have the negative consequences feared at this stage. That said, after such wheezes in the past as attempting to get the software patents directive put through on the nod via the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, alarm at this legislation is scarcely unreasonable. It seems at the moment like the directive isn't intended to legitimise 3 strikes legislation, or require monitoring of individuals, and the drafter has indicated he's open to amendments to preclude such interpretations, but it's still not clear to me what the effects on ISPs' "mere conduit" status would be.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-08 01:13 am (UTC)All the amendments have gone through (although the whole package has still to be voted on), but it's not at all clear that the directives would have the negative consequences feared at this stage. That said, after such wheezes in the past as attempting to get the software patents directive put through on the nod via the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, alarm at this legislation is scarcely unreasonable. It seems at the moment like the directive isn't intended to legitimise 3 strikes legislation, or require monitoring of individuals, and the drafter has indicated he's open to amendments to preclude such interpretations, but it's still not clear to me what the effects on ISPs' "mere conduit" status would be.