The EU’s controversial copyright directive started off with all the right intentions but then took a Machiavellian turn as legislators became increasingly obsessed with US high tech and determined to hit them with a big stick. It became a melting pot for Europe’s paranoia and inferiority complex over internet technology and services, which has led to a big missed opportunity to update copyright law properly for the digital age. That after all was and still is the stated intention, along with protecting authors and performers, even if the directive has since become warped by its more political agenda. As so often when guns are fired indiscriminately the crossfire catches innocent victims and can lead to consequences almost the opposite of…