3 strikes, the new push from the record industry in favor of their failing lawsuit campaign, has hit another stumbling block…. France.
The various record industry lobby groups have been pushing for the creation of 3 strikes laws to anyone that will listen. They came close at the EU level but that was rejected. Since then they have pushed for laws in the UK, Denmark, France and New Zealand. They have come close but each time failed at the last hurdle.
Their recent lost occurred in France where HADOPI, another 3 strike law, made it through the French Parliament and Senate but failed at the last hurdle in the National Assembly. After passing Parliament the public backlash started much like New Zealand and this was enough to beat the law.
So what is so wrong with 3 strikes?
The answer will depend on who you ask. Ask the record industry and they will say Nothing! Their evidence is always correct and 3 warnings should be enough to stop anyone right?
When you look deeper the cracks start to show though.
- It has been shown again and again that the evidence collected by the record industry is not accurate.
- Most 3 strike laws have had content providers positioned as Judge, Jury and Executioner!
- The person doing the downloading might not be the bill payer so a disconnection takes a family or even an entire company off the Internet.
- Google even came out in support against the New Zealand law saying that well over 50% of take down notices it gets are companies trying to take out competition.
So far the world has seen sense but when Big Media comes knocking in your country make sure your MP knows how you feel about any such law and that so far EVERY country has rejected this stupidity!
