Pirate party UK officially registered
Thursday, 13 August 2009 5:20 PM
By Ian Dunt
The Pirate party UK has been officially registered, continuing a remarkable trend across Europe.
The move follows the success of the party in its native Sweden, where it won a seat at the European elections.
"It's early days for the party," leader Andrew Robinson told politics.co.uk.
"We're very pleased we passed the first hurdle. It's now time to get the public involved and ensure there are pirates to vote for in the next general election."
Formed after legal attempts to close down the file-sharing site Pirate Bay, the party campaigns for the deregulation of copyright, the abolition of the patent system and reduced surveillance on the internet, as well as civil liberties issues.
The group performs particularly strongly among young people.
The UK party will now be able to raise funds and have Pirate party candidates at the next general election, and perform in all other respects as a normal political party.
The Pirate party's three core policies:
- Reform copyright and patent law - legalise non-commercial file sharing and reduce the excessive length of copyright protection, while ensuring that when creative works are sold, it's the artists who benefit, not monopoly rights holders. A patent system that doesn't stifle innovation or make life saving drugs so expensive that patients die should be enforced.
- End the excessive surveillance - profiling, tracking and monitoring of innocent people by government and big businesses.
- Ensure that everyone has real freedom of speech and real freedom to enjoy and participate in our shared culture.
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