French internet pirates face disconnection
The Australian wrote:
Under legislation expected to be approved by parliament after Easter, internet users face the threat of having their connection cut off for repeatedly pirating music, films or games.
The first offence will bring a warning by email, the second a registered letter and the third the possibility of a ban of up to a year. It is the first such law in the world. Other governments - in New Zealand and Ireland, for example - have toyed with the scheme, only to recoil amid claims that it was a threat to civil liberties and a technical minefield.
Australia has been in the news with its unpopular trial internet filter. This goes a massive step further. I hope it isnt setting a precedent for other countries to follow, especially as MP3 downloads are most peoples preferred way to listen to music.The Australian wrote:
Mr Barreiro believes officials have bowed to the mainstream record companies, led by French-owned Universal Music, which blame piracy for halving the number of CDs sold in France over the past six years.
Their argument that young musicians will be deprived of a living by internet pirates is promoted in the French corridors of power by artists such as Carla Bruni, the President's wife, and Hallyday, his friend.
With the Government preparing to send out 10,000 warnings and to cut off 1000 users a month, Mr Barreiro predicts chaos as pirates keep a step ahead by encrypting files or using other people's broadband connections
