I’ll set the scene, you’re casually browsing the internet, sipping on a glass of Château Margaux, downloading the new Antoine Clamaran CD - when all of a sudden the internet has come to an abrupt end. No it’s not a network problem - this is France’s attempt at cracking down on illegal internet downloading.
When a web user is caught illegally downloading material, such as music, films or anything of that nature, under a controversial new French law (Hadopi) the user will first receive an email, then a registered letter and then finally his or her internet access will be cut off. The ban is said to range from three months to a year.
French culture minister, Christine Albanel had this to say on the subject:
“The proposed law aims to curb (without claiming to be able to stop) illegal downloading, especially of music and films, and hence support artistic creation”
Suggested fines of up to 300,000 Euros and possible imprisonment have been dramatically decreased and the more realistic penalty for home users is now likely to be upwards of £100. A rather large price to pay for your favourite album, wouldn’t you say?
Figures of the music industry are, of course, in favour of supporting the new law, most probably because CD sales have halved in the past five years and sadly the decline is almost entirely because of illegal downloads.
Almost the entire senate voted in agreement to the law last October and it is set to be going ahead January of next year.
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