French File Sharers Under Threat

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More untrustworthy politicians at work again it seems

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/01/french_senate_passes_three_strikes_bill/

The French Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favor of disconnecting Internet pirates, despite European Parliament's direct opposition to the punishment.

Under France's proposed three-strikes or "graduated response" law, Internet users accused of stealing content online for the first time would receive a cautioning email. A second time results in a warning letter delivered by post, and a third claim requires the user's Internet service provider (ISP) to cut access for a year.
The legislation passed on a vote of 297 to 15, but still needs approval by the National Assembly before it becomes law.

France has suggested the three-strikes scheme as an amendment to a wider, pan-European Telecoms Package back in July, but the amendment was ultimately rejected. In fact, European Parliament later passed an amendment that specifically condemns using disconnection as punishment.

This will be a waste of time for everyone involved as any potential victim need only refer their case the european courts for a judgement opposing any from a French court, also basic human rights legislation that all EU member states have ratified may be used to counter any such horrendous and draconian plan by these copyright despots.

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The BBC is writing up its own anti-filesharing propaganda take on this story, they seem to have dropped editorial standards to an all time low 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7706014.stm

The idea to tackle piracy with such a three strikes law was first floated in November 2007, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy called it: "a decisive moment for the future of a civilised internet".
Under the plan, net firms will be enrolled as watchdogs that will keep an eye on consumers indulging in casual piracy.
Those spotted illegally sharing copyrighted works, such as music tracks or movies, will get two warnings, but if they do not heed these then their net connection with be terminated.

Prior to the Senate vote, French politicians rejected an amendment, by Bruno Retailleau of the right-wing MPF party, which suggested using fines instead of cutting people off.
Mr Retailleau said the net had become an "essential commodity" and cutting people off went too far.
If enacted, the law will put France on a collision course with Brussels, which rejected a call to impose such "three strikes" laws across Europe in April 2008.
Throwing people offline, it said, conflicted with "civil liberties and human rights".

The four lines above seems to be the only legitimate counterpoint to the proposed French action, the rest of the story is the usual BBC attempt to cause alarm and disarray amongst filesharers with their now traditional misleading reports, shame on you BBC