Thursday, September 24, 2009

THREE STRIKES LAW

The French National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, has recently passed a bill imposing fines up to 300,000 euros--- the equivalent of about P20,700,000--- as well as possible prison term for the illegal download of films or music. Families whose children download illegally are not exempt from the law, but face reduced penalties a month of no internet access and fines of 3,750 euros, or 258,750 pesos.
Internet piracy has become a serious concern to the producers, musicians, authors, and others who create content complaining that illegal downloading is essentially stealing their work. This is a major trade off of the booming digital industry. Though it has made easier to create content, but it also made it easier to copy it, thus, violating the intellectual property right of the creators. Under the terms of the new law, people caught illegally downloading files will receive a warning by email on their first offense, followed by a warning sent through registered mail on the second. On the third offense, the user's details will be sent to a judge, who will have the power to cut off internet access and impose fines or even jail terms. Thus, the law was also known as the “three strikes law” for its graduated response to internet piracy.

1 comment:

Ma. Lourdes C. Polido said...

is music and video piracy stealing? laws would say YES. however, i dont think those laws are fair and just. i honestly dont care that im violating copyright laws when im downloading my sounds and the joy-to-my-heart tv series, hehe.