ACTA (the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) is regularly compared to stalled US legislation SOPA. It seeks to establish international standards for intellectual property rights enforcement.

Opponents suggest it impinges on civil liberties and freedom of expression.

After the EU signed the Agreement last month, the European Parliament's appointed rapporteur Kader Arif resigned in protest.

However, an IFPI spokesperson told Music Week today: "ACTA should be seen for what it is and not as the caricature that some are presenting of it. ...