Comments on: French 3 strikes law struck down. Again.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:30:07 +0000

If you say something I don’t agree with, should I be given the right to cut out your tongue? While three strikes laws are an order of magnitude less brutal, the basic principal behind both are the same. Communicating via the internet is no different in this day and age than conversing over the telephone or in person. Therefore I feel The Constitutional Council came to the correct conclusion and am heartened to see that not everyone in a position of power has been blinded by greed. Constitutional rights and freedoms still mean something somewhere in the world; score another point for the good guys! News such as this also reminds us that we can never ever take those rights for granted. We must forever be vigilant in protecting them from enemies both foreign and domestic, of which there always seems to be an abundant supply. History has shown us time and again that when we fail to do so, the cost to get them back is usually in human lives. Sadly, history also has a nasty habit of repeating itself so I fear my words are likely for naught.

By: iKo

iKo — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:51:16 +0000

What happened was quite easy to guess.
The 3 strikes law, against illegal downloading, was made so that an administrative entity could suspend your internet connection. Well what the Conseil Constitutionnel statued, is that, since Internet is now part of the different available media that permits oneself to express his opignon, it could not be cut without a jugement stating so. This decision make it almost impossible for the governement to achieve its objectives (wich was 1000 cut/day) and make it almost impossible to apply (since french justice is already struggling).

Second part is that, when you where Suspected of illegally downloading, you had to proove your innocence. This was totally absurd since, in french law, everybody is presumed innocent. With the difficulty of making an IP a proof (some judgement already flushed it as a proof), it’s almost the entirelaw that just died.

That’s quite a great news actually (with amazon opening its mp3 store in France)

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:38:46 +0000

I’d say that the Pirate Party’s success in Sweden has thrown the fear of the Mark into them. Perhaps they see the handwriting on the wall?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:35:32 +0000

German Publishers Demand Govt Action On Piracy

Didn’t take them long to start demanding other countries fall in, did it? Ink isn’t dry on the failed proposal and already they are trying to make hay to force other countries to do the same. Looks like this time, they got way ahead of their game. Too far ahead.

It would be nice to see a little common sense come from Germany for a change on the copyright issues.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:26:37 +0000

Let them eat cake.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:20:48 +0000

“Now two questions remain: When will French citizens let Sarkozy know he answers to them, not Hollywood or Big Music? How will they do it?”

Simple. By draging the guillotines from the museum back into the street. This is the only way.