French copyright and telecommunications watchdogs lose their teeth

Two French Internet watchdogs have lost their teeth following a change in the law on Tuesday and a ruling by the Constitutional Court last week.

Those accused by the High Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet (Hadopi) of illegally downloading copyright works in France no longer risk losing their Internet access, following a change in the law promulgated Tuesday, although it will now be easier to fine them.

And it will take another change in the law before network operators need fear the French telecommunications regulator, Arcep, which last week lost the power to impose penalties on companies breaking its rules.

France was one of the first countries to introduce a so-called “three strikes” law to discourage the unauthorized downloading of copyright works. Internet subscribers who failed to secure their connection, allowing it to be used for illegal downloads, were warned, first by email, then by registered letter and finally with a convocation to be interviewed by Hadopi. If illegal downloads continued, a court could suspend subscribers’ Internet connections and fine them up to €1,500 (US$2,000). Now they face only a fine.

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Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2043934/french-copyright-and-telecommunications-watchdogs-lose-their-teeth.html#tk.rss_all

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