Volume II

Issue : 3: February 5, 2004

• U.S. National Cable Association Proposes Limited VoIP Regulation
• The VoIP Regulatory Debate Intensifies in Canada - TRAI Amends its Quality of Service Regulations for VoIP Long Distance Service in India
• Minnesota Judge Refuses to Reserve VoIP Decision - Panama Introduces Tax on VoIP
• Lawsuit Launched Against Credit Card Companies over Piracy of Internet Pornography
• U.S. Telemarketers Required to Identify Themselves to Consumers by Caller ID
• Federal, British Columbia and Alberta Privacy Commissioners Agree to Cooperate
• FTC Releases Report on 2003 Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaints
• B.C. Court Rules Forward Looking Infra-Red Technology Does Not Constitute a Search
• RIAA Targets Individuals on Anonymous Basis - Australia Music Industry Sues ISP
• France Gets Ready to Take Action against Internet Piracy
• Canadian Company to Offer High-speed Internet Access Via Hydro Lines
• U.S. Court of Appeals Finds Formation of On-line Contract Does Not Require "I Agree"
• Ontario Court Asserts Jurisdiction Over Washington Post Based on Online Publication

Home > Volume II > Issue 3: February 5, 2004 > France Gets Ready to Take Action against Internet Piracy

France Gets Ready to Take Action against Internet Piracy

According to the French music industry trade body, SNEP, music sales declined by 14.6 percent in 2003 for the first time in much of the past decade. SNEP's general director, Herve Rony, has stated that he believes there to be a link between the fall in the market and the increased use of the Internet in France. He has also stated that he is not ruling out lawsuits against computer users engaged in Internet piracy.

Rony is concerned that French law does not offer the same levels of protection to copyright holders as British and American laws afford. But he seems to have the backing of the French Minister of Culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, who has promised tougher legislation on online piracy.

In 2003 the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sued 532 computer users who were allegedly distributing songs illegally over the Internet. Allen Dixon, from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, has stated that he expects that there will be lawsuits in Europe in connection with file sharing and Internet piracy in 2004.

For additional information, visit:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;?storyID=4202096
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46877-2004Jan25.html