French File-Sharers Asked for Explanations

[DaBees-Knees]

http://www.p2pon.com/

Hadopi, the French independent authority responsible with handling the country’s “three strikes” anti-filesharing law has announced that after nine months since the introduction of the anti-piracy model, no individual has received penalties. The organization also summoned 10 web users to explain their online activity in relation to file sharing, the BBC reports. However, the 10 persons in question don’t have the obligation to appear.

The organization claims it has been tracking 18 million French IP addresses within last nine months and has sent a total of 470,000 first email file-sharing warnings; 20,000 users have received a second warning.

The “three strikes” legislation allows Hadopi to identify people suspected of downloading and uploading copyright protected content and send them notices to stop the illegal activity.

Under the same legislation, those who do not comply after multiple warnings risk being cut off from their internet connection and included on a blacklist that would prevent them from subscribing to services from other ISPs.

Hadopi announced that after the meeting they will decide whether to move forward with legal action. This means that the task of ruling whether a user has violated the law will be passed on to a judge.

“The judge may impose a fine of a maximum of € 1,500 (about £1,326 or $ 2 177) and also disconnect the user from the internet for a maximum of one month,” the body added.

“Alternatively, he may decide to fine the user without the disconnection penalty – or simply let the user go.”

UK has also imposed a similar policy through the controversial Digital Economy Act makes; however, a full explanation of penalties and how they will be applied has not been given yet.

"After nine months since the introduction of the anti-piracy model, no individual has received penalties"

It seems the cost and complexity of the operation is tending to overwhelm it.