French media groups strike back at online piracy
Enough is enough, or so French media groups and net firms have decided. A new anti-piracy agreement has been reached that will ban users from their ISPs for participating in piracy and illegal sharing.
Though many European countries have been working to take down large piracy rings and tracker sites, this initiative is focused specifically on thwarting the efforts of the casual (or otherwise) day to day pirate, according to BBC News.
Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, said the initiative is a, “decisive moment for the future of a civilised internet.“
French net firms plan on monitoring the specific traffic of each user and will alert the media groups as to which users are frequently pirating material or sharing illegally; from there, the ISPs will warn the users to discontinue their swashbuckling habits or risk being cut off from the internet completely.
What do the ISPs stand to gain for turning in every hapless pirate they run across? The music and movie groups in France have graciously agreed to begin moving more quickly to DRM-free material, which will undoubtedly boost usage of ISPs.
The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), or the large international group responsible for the interests of large media groups, said, “This is the single most important initiative to help win the war on online piracy that we have seen so far.”
Three cheers for making sure the interests of the large media groups are protected! What, no one else is excited?
One element the large media groups and ISPs are neglecting is the fact that pirates will always be pirates; in no way will a luke-warm initiative will dissuay users from finding ways around piracy blockades.
That doesn’t even begin to broach the subject of limited freedoms and statutes that will no doubt be challenged; as much as the major media groups might not like it, they do not own the world, and this just represents a hiccup in the steady progress of those who will continue to partake in piracy for as long as there are things to steal.
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November 23rd, 2007
I personally think this is a good thing, although it will only stop the novice pirates. the experts of course will be able to get around this, then make it easier for the novice users.
I still say though that this is a good step, even if it seems mean, but they at least give a warning.
I feel sorry for the people who’s wireless internet is hacked. They will be wondering why they are banned from their ISP, only to find out that it is someone next door using there internet to download music illegally.