EU undermines Sarkozy's plan to to Fight Illegal Downloads

The governing party of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, scrambling to save a national law that would cut off Internet service to those who make repeated illegal downloads, is threatening to block a European Union telecommunications bill that would undermine the legal foundation of the French plan. The New York Times reports.

The E.U. bill would create a new telecommunication regulator in Europe, enable regulators to separate dominant phone companies from their networks, and increase coordination of broadcast frequencies within Europe.

But the measure prohibits the exact proposal that France is considering — allowing a government agency to cut off the Internet service of E.U. citizens. The French National Assembly, which unexpectedly rejected the proposal this month, is scheduled to revisit the plan next week.

Representatives of Mr. Sarkozy have spent the past week lobbying Brussels to eliminate the clause, which is part of legislation that has been two years in the making.

Read full article.

Related:

-- French reject Internet Piracy Law

-- Sarkozy move to punish illegal downloaders sparks liberties row

-- Assembly approves Sarkozy plan for French television

-- European Parliament says "no" to disconnecting P2P users

-- Illegal downloaders 'face UK ban'

-- French plan e-mail warnings for illegal downloads

emily | 8:38 AM | Copypright Issues |
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