[Infowarrior] - More on.....French antipiracy bill failure

[Richard Forno]

Setback for Sarkozy as French parliament rejects controversial  
internet law
Charles Bremner
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6067641.ece

< - >

The rejection was embarrassing on two counts. The low turnout for the  
morning vote by members of Mr Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement  
(UMP) reflected the weakness of parliamenary procedures in France's  
presidential regime. It also testified to the lack of enthusiasm in  
the government camp for a law which is deemed by critics to be a  
breach of democracy and counterproductive.

At least two of Mr Sarkozy's MPs voted against the law, saying they  
did so because of a last-minute amendment. This would require internet  
users to continue paying for their service as part of an overall  
telephone and television package, even if their access to the web had  
been cut.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Socialists' parliamentary leader, called on the  
Government to abandon a law that was unpopular and unworkable. Roger  
Karoutchi, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, called the  
rejection a "blow against artistic creativity and a bad blow for  
French artists."

The international recording and film industry is strongly behind the  
French law and they hope that, when enacted, it will set an example  
for the United States and other countries in the battle to end illegal  
downloading. The draft law will now go back for another vote by each  
house before returning to the Assembly for a final vote. Assuming that  
MPs in Mr Sarkozy's absolute majority obey their party, the law would  
be expected to come into force.