Brussels - The European Union plans to institute a "piracy observatory" that would monitor counterfeiting and piracy across member countries and better unite law enforcement activities and public awareness campaigns, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The observatory was included in a package that "includes provisions for an international anti-piracy pact that would strengthen global intellectual property rules," THR reported.

Brussels - The European Parliament has voted to prohibit member states from enacting "three-strikes" laws that disconnect the Internet accounts of repeat file-swappers, TorrentFreak reported.

Munich, Germany - A German court has ordered Dutch collecting society Buma/Stemra and digital music service Beatport to stop distributing tracks in Germany for which German collecting society GEMA claims the rights.

Brussels - Members of the European Parliament voted 314 to 297 this week to approve a measure that asks member nations not to enact laws whose penalties would interrupt users' Internet access, such as France's recent policy that compels ISPs to disconnect the accounts of repeat file-swappers. The wording calls for the European Commission and member states to "avoid adopting measures conflicting with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of Internet access."

Brussels - Delivering a setback to the global music industry's legal campaign against illegal file-sharing, the European Court of Justice has ruled that EU countries need not disclose the identities of suspected file-swappers in the course of civil lawsuits. The court found in favor of Spanish telco Telefonica, which argued that EU rules only stipulate that file-swapper identities must be disclosed in criminal proceedings.

Brussels - The European Commission on Monday launched a new probe into allegations that Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is unfairly tying its Internet Explorer browser to its Windows operating system, and making it difficult for competitors' software to work with Windows, Reuters reported. "This initiation of proceedings does not imply that the Commission has proof of an infringement. It only signifies that the Commission will further investigate the case as a matter of priority," the Commission said.

London - Confirming a report from yesterday, Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Wednesday announced that it will lower the prices at its U.K. iTunes Store within six months, to standardize pricing with other European iTunes Stores. Prices for iTunes downloads in the U.K. are currently nearly 10% more expensive than downloads in the euro-zone. The move settles an ongoing dispute with the European Union, which took action after a complaint from a U.K. consumer group.

Brussels - Apple (NASD: AAPL) is close to settling charges it broke European Union rules by operating iTunes Stores with different pricing in different EU countries, and will likely announce steps it will take to resolve the matter this week, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

London - The European Commission is investigating whether Apple and the major record labels violated EU competition rules, with iTunes Store deals that prohibit users in one country from downloading music from a website intended to serve another country, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Munich - The European Commission's director general for competition has cautioned against imposing regulations on Apple's iPod on the grounds that its closed architecture impedes competition, Reuters reported on Wednesday.