The European Commission confirmed on 20 December 2012 that it was withdrawing Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU). This ended ACTA's process at EU level and confirms rejection of the treaty by the EU.

Is an ACTA law?

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), was rejected by the European Parliament on 4 July 2012, and hence cannot become law in the EU. This was the first time that Parliament exercised its Lisbon Treaty power to reject an international trade agreement.

What does the ACTA do?

Acta is an international treaty that aims to protect intellectual property rights across borders. Copyright holders argue that it marks a recognition of the value of intellectual property rights to an economy's global competitiveness.