p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Will US First Lady Michelle Obama raise Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music’s three-strikes-and-you’re out and P2P file sharing issues with French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, herself an ex-singer, during a “paparazzi-pulling visit to Strasbourg Cathedral”?

Unlikely, say sources not very close to them.

“They’ll probably be talking about dresses and such.”

As Western leaders converge on Strasbourg for a NATO summit, “celebrity watchers will set their sights on the high-profile pair, whose style and personalities have grabbed world headlines,” states Agence France-Presse.

“Obama and Bruni-Sarkozy will join other NATO leaders’ partners for a midday visit of the Gothic jewel and a nearby art restoration centre, after touring a cancer research institute,” it says.

Another first lady, French culture minister Christine Albanel (right), originally presented the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ P2P file sharing bill to cabinet, “effectively turning the country into a massive taxpayer financed, but entertainment industry controlled, copyright enforcement agency,” said p2pnet last year.

“The legislation would set up a new administrative body that would receive complaints from the music and film industry and track down offenders through Internet service providers,” said Agence France-Presse.

There is, however, no strength to the rumour (started by us) that during their get-together, the Two Firsts will discuss how to persuade their husbands to take the lead in finally killing the corporate music industry plans to use their governments to compel ISPs to act as enforcement agencies, funded by the ISPs themselves and local taxpayers.

“Twenty-eight heads of state and government are set to descend on Strasbourg and Kehl across the German border for the summit marking NATO’s 60th anniversary,” says AFP, adding:

“Between 30,000 and 60,000 people are expected at a mass protest rally.”

three-strikes-and-you’re out – Comcast, AT&T say No! to RIAA 3-strikes plan, March 26, 2009
Agence France-Presse – Michelle and Carla bring star power to NATO summit, March 31, 2009
p2pnet – France joins RIAA, MPAA, June 19, 2008
Agence France-Presse – France clamps down on Internet piracy, June 18, 2008