Why France’s piracy watchdog is missing teeth

07 October 2011

Edward Conlon, London

French courts might soon decide whether 60 alleged internet pirates should be fined or be cut off from the internet after they ignored final warnings about infringing copyright

The individuals failed to respond to emails from an administrative body called Hadopi, which monitors the sharing of copyrighted material on peer-to-peer networks and operates a controversial three-strike system of warnings for alleged illegal downloaders.

Hadopi, which began work in early 2010, notifies a person who it believes has committed an infringing act that he or she is breaching copyright laws. If another infringement is believed to occur within six months then Hadopi sends a second warning. It issues a final letter if similar acts are committed within one year.

In a report published by Hadopi last week into its work so far, the organisation said that...

Only subscribers have complete access to Managing Internet IP, log in or subscribe now.

Alternatively take a free trial, giving you 48-hour access to Managing Internet IP (some articles and surveys may be excluded).