France looks at net piracy crackdown
TEXT OF STORY
Renita Jablonski: In France, some people may be about to lose their Internet connections. The goverment’s looking at cracking down on those repeatedly caught pirating music, video games and movies. A controversial anti-piracy law could go through after Easter. From the European desk, Stephen Beard reports.
Stephen Beard: The proposed law is based on the principle of three strikes and you’re out. Illegal downloaders will first get a warning e-mail, then a warning letter. And if they do it again, they’ll get banned from accessing the Internet for up to a year. The government lost the first vote on the bill yesterday, but will reintroduce it after Easter.
Edouard Barreiro is a consumer advocate who campaigns against the measure. He thinks it will become law, because of intense domestic lobbying:
EDOUARD BARREIRO: I think that the law will pass in France because the president of France has the will to do it.
BEARD: The President wants it to happen?
BARREIRO: Yes, because his wife works in the industry of music. She’s a singer.
BEARD: He’s doing it for Carla’s sake?
BARREORO: Yes, exactly.
Carla Bruni isn’t the only one backing the new law. The U.K.’s music industry body is pushing for something similar in Britain.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
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