Posted on 09/16/2009 10:10:48 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Country’s National Assembly passes draft law that kills illegal downloaders’ internet access
The French National Assembly has passed one of the toughest laws against internet piracy that the world has ever seen.
Under the new legislation, backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, illegal downloaders of games, music and movies will be sent two warnings - first by email and then by recorded delivery.
Following these cautions, the offender's details will be passed to a judge – who now has the power to cut off Internet access and issue heavy fines or even prison sentences.
The law was narrowly passed by 285 votes to 225. The ruling majority UMP voted in favour but the Socialist Party has already announced that they will appeal to the Constitutional Court once again.
The document will only be adopted definitely if a commission - made up of seven senators and seven deputies - can agree a joint version in the next few days.
According to the Mail, it is the third time this year President Sarkozy has tried to get the so-called Hadopi law passed in France - named after the government agency that will monitor web piracy.
On the first occasion it was rejected by MPs at the French parliament. The second time it was passed, but contained a clause giving the Hadopi agency the sole power to cut off an offender's Internet.
While it is backed by the film and record industries, consumer groups have warned that innocent people may get punished.
The European Parliament is currently considering whether cutting off internet access is a breach of human rights.
Wow.
Uh... I hate to ask but how exactly does the state know your email and home address if you are just using a browser to download this stuff?
I remember a case a while back where Sony had violated the copyrights of a certain recording artist. If Sony makes those songs available on the Internet, will they cut off Sony from the Internet?
I doubt it. The law was written by the likes of Sony.
Ze Fwench take 3 hour lunch breaks anyway and they can do their “downloads” at the nearest cafe.
Never mind.
Not sure about laws in France, but the ISP you use has a record of your IP address. They can also look at the traffic going over their network. Technically, you have no privacy on the net.
The French disconnection:
Real pirates: give them whatever they want and whine later over cheese and canapes
Computer pirates: shoot them!
Long live sneakernet. New SDXC cards can hold 2 terabytes.
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