European Parliament rejects ACTA treaty

MEPs in Strasbourg have overwhelmingly voted against the controversial anti-counterfeiting trade agreement known as ACTA.

The agreement was supposed to stop trade in counterfeit goods including medicines bought online.

But it also included provisions on copyright infringements which created a furore over the possible impact on the civil and digital rights of internet users.

The international agreement needed the approval of the European Parliament for its ratification.

But the MEPs today gave it a massive thumbs down - 478 MEPs voted against ACTA, 39 in favour, and 165 abstained.

ACTA was negotiated by the EU and its member states, the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland to improve the enforcement of anti-counterfeiting law internationally.

Today's vote means that neither the EU nor its individual member states can join the agreement.