French parliament unexpectedly kills Net piracy bill

The French parliament on Thursday voted down an Internet piracy law, which had largely been expected to pass.

(Credit: Assemblee Nationale)

The "Creation and Internet" law, which won the preliminary approval of the parliament last week, would compel Internet service providers to take graduated actions against customers accused of illegally downloading copyrighted material. After warning a customer against such actions for a third time, an ISP could suspend the person's Internet access for up to a year.

Because the bill was expected to pass, few members of parliament were present for the final vote on the bill, according to the Associated Press. Opponents of the legislation, led by the Socialist party, rejected the measure by a vote of 21 to 15.

The legislation had the support of the ruling UMP party, to which President Nicolas Sarkozy belongs, as well as the support of the Recording Industry Association of America. Backers of the bill intend to re-introduce an amended version within the coming weeks, according to reports.

The entertainment industry has suggested to the United States' Congress that it should consider adopting European methods of combating copyright infringement. The United States, members of the European Union, and other countries may also consider making ISPs liable for infringement through international treaties.

[umbrae]

Dead, dead, dead. Guess the French will be online for a while longer.

[darfjono]

Good job. +1 france. i guess at least ONE country still has the interests of its people in their minds.

[aMUSICsite]

I guess Paul McGuinness and U2 will be annoyed that his favorite model of protecting corporate greed in music.... ops I mean protecting the kids... has now failed in France.

[karpenterskids]

France keeps looking like a better and better place to move to...
lol

[Maccess]

There's probably no truth to the rumor that the French ISP industry hosted a luncheon for the parliamentarians that went overtime.

[HlLLARY CLITON]

LOL it was just the other day the RIAA was bragging of victory

[BtmnHatesRbn]

I guess France didn't see it right to criminalize the new generation that's taking over, or that new generation is already in control there. You know, people who turned 20 in 1988 and upwards.

[wolivere]

I am not sure how to take that, does that mean ignorace of laws is the new generation. That my need's are greater then there needs?

I am not sure what this new generation means. Maybe I am out of touch since I hit 20 in 85. But it don't make much sense to me. We say the labels are greedy which may or may not be. Our economy is based on money for product/entertainment.

What is the method we want? We want everything for free? explain I just don't get it.

[tm_anon]

@wolivere

The model many of us want is for the artists to get paid for work done. Unfortunately, the RIAA as well as the equivalent bodies all over the world would rather be paid and then distribute what they see fit to the artists.

Add to that the inability of the RIAA as well as the MPAA to create distribution methods which more closely match the needs and desires of the viewing and consuming public both monetarily as well as type and you start to realize that we're not being greedy, we're just asking for reform.

Instead, we're being criminalized. For my own part, I use torrent files for the reception and distribution of my OS (ubuntu). None of these proposed laws give any way without huge invasions of privacy to be able to distinguish between legal files and copyrighted files.

By the way, there's a very good model for being able to give content freely to consumers and still make money. If there weren't, television would only exist in Cable form, Music could only be played on CDs and Google wouldn't exist.

[infinitely]

What people have forgotten due to years of the music industry being in place simply because of issues with physical media, artists work for TIPS. Every single artist from Britney Spears to Kurt Cobain is and was basically a street performer with a hat open for people to throw some change in. The internet makes it possible for more people to hear them and more people to pay, but at the same time they have the choice to enjoy it, walk by and not give a dime. That's the way it works now regardless of the law and it will continue that way until something better comes along. And by better I don't mean something that will make it possible for the music industry bigwigs to stuff their pockets with money that rightfully belongs to singers and songwriters.

[Michichael]

Holy crap! It's the first French Victory in history! :D

[wolivere]

Incorrect they defeated the Brits at Yorkton for the yanks

[sullivanjc]

It was an accident if the report is to be believed and will probably be "corrected"...

[theuriet]

well, it's likely that there won't be a second time.
it will be subject to debate at the end of the month, and this time there will be probably more than 15 MP from the majority (UMP&affiliated). At this rate the last hope will be the constitutional council (conseil constitutionnel), but well... basing on their previous judgements... wait&see

[cerebral_but_dull]

The problem with the proposed law was that if you were ACCUSED three times you lost your internet access. RIAA wants their ACCUSATION to carry the same force as conviction. With enough money lavished on politicans, they may succeed, but at least they didn't this time.

[ralfthedog]

Good for the French! I plan to buy a bottle of mustard to celebrate.

There should be some additional protection for the artist, but what worries me is if I **** off my neighbor they can accuse me of piracy and get me kicked off line just because they feel like it. I'm glad I live in the US where (at least for now) you are innocent until proven guilty.