Intellectual Property Law

French Reject 'Three-Strikes' Piracy Measure

By Ryan Singel, Kevin Poulsen, Sarah Lai Stirland, Kim Zetter, and David Kravets

French lawmakers on Thursday rejected a so-called "three-strikes" law that would have terminated internet service for repeat, online copyright scofflaws.

The move, on the heels of similar rejections in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany and even the European Parliament, comes as the music and movie industries push governments and internet service providers to terminate or suspend service of peer-to-peer file sharers.

Paul McGuinness, U2's band manager, said Tuesday the measure would pass and noted "the French government should be congratulated."

Still, the governments of Italy and South Korea are still weighing such proposals. And in the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America are lobbying ISPs for three-strikes measures. The Obama administration, meanwhile, supports up to $150,000 in damages for each online violation of the Copyright Act.

The IFPI, known as the International Federation for the Phonographic Industry and the worldwide counterpart to the RIAA, said it would continue lobbying for the French three-strikes law.

Photo: altemark

See Also:

• AT&T, Comcast Deny RIAA 'Three-Strikes' Participation
• Top Internet Providers Cool to RIAA 3-Strikes Plan
• ISP Agrees to Ban Copyright Scofflaws
• Leaner RIAA Still Moving to Terminate Online Access of Copyright ...
• MPAA Negotiates With ISPs to Disconnect or Penalize Copyright ...
• RIAA, MPAA Converging on Political Conventions

Full post as published by Threat Level on April 09, 2009 (boomark / email).