EU Strikes Down French "3 Strikes" Copyright Infringement Law

Erris writes "Opendotdotdot has good news about laws in the EU: 'EU culture ministers yesterday (20 November) rejected French proposals to curb online piracy through compulsory measures against free downloading ... [and instead pushed] for "a fair balance between the various fundamental rights" while fighting online piracy, first listing "the right to personal data protection," then "the freedom of information" and only lastly "the protection of intellectual property." [This] indicates that the culture ministers and their advisers are beginning to understand the dynamics of the Net, that throttling its use through crude instruments like the "three strikes and you're out" is exactly the wrong thing to do.'"

Comments

Huh?

[stonecypher]

that throttling its use through crude instruments like the "three strikes and you're out" is exactly the wrong thing to do.'"

Why? Repeat offender laws are remarkably effective in normal crime control; what makes this different?

Re:Not completly good news

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean organizations like ... USA ?

Re:How do you get membership?

[Chep]

Another requirement of *E*U membership might be some continental proximity to Europe... (or be a direct dependent territory, see Reunion, which is probably the closest scrap of EU from Australia. Would Australia go back on its independence to achieve EU membership?... Dude...)

Re:Not completly good news

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the EU can be the voice of reason, much like the British house of Lords.

ah hahahahahaha

*wipes tears*

heh..

i'm going to get modded flamebait for this, but

[overcaffein8d]

does this mean that fair and balanced is good now?

Re:The Free Culture Principle

[sakdoctor]

Yes I think I understand how this works

* Seek rock, but not at the expense of scissors
* Seek scissors, but not at the expense of paper
* Seek paper, but not at the expense of rock

France and Baseball

[MosesJones]

I mean come on, it should be struck down on the basis that France doesn't even play Baseball so a "3 strikes" rule is just the American Imperialism that they are always railing against.

Now a "7 Course Meal and you are out" sounds a much more French rule to have.

On the copyright side of course its quite odd that France, which has a set of music that only the French want to listen to (Manau excepted) is worried about piracy, hell if more people listen to some of their artists they should be glad.

Re:France and Baseball

[MosesJones]

I lived in the country for 2 years working in a multi-national organisation, and have a reasonable French music collection. One day we had a competition of "who is the worst at" and for the music category it came down to France v Germany in the final.

The french contender put forwards the amount of average 50 year old crooners and Johnny Halliday who all have their crowds of 17-20 year old models in the background all the time.

The german contender pulled out the winning plug however by pointing out that not only is "oompha" music played on German TV but that their music is so had that they.... BOUGHT DAVID HASSELHOFF CDs.

The issue with French music (and German) isn't that there aren't some reasonable things in there, its that most of it is just stunningly bad and makes bad UK or American music seem like the Beatles, Stones or Beach Boys. As a French colleague said "if your Uncle sang like that at a party you'd be embarrassed". The occasional stars aren't even allowed to shine that brightly in France amongst the turgid nonsense of French "Pop" and Drunk Uncle music.

3 Strikes?

[longacre]

Perhaps they rejected it simply because Europeans didn't understand the "3 strikes" baseball metaphor. They should adopt a "three yellow cards leads to a red card" policy.

Re:How do you get membership?

[Elektroschock]

We can get Iceland for free as an EU member state now ;-)

Re:Not completly good news

[porpnorber]

So the wrong side won the US civil war? Just checking. You're allowed to say 'yes,' I know it wasn't really about slavery (though you have to ask yourself whether the revolution wasn't, given the timing).

(PS: Flamebait or not? It's an interesting and slightly worrisome fact that when I say something cynical about America I have no way to predict whether I'll be modded "flamebait" or "insightful." I swear, I can use the exact same words on two different days and get opposite moderation. Maybe it depends on timezones—am I posting while Europe is awake?)

Re:The Free Culture Principle

[Swizec]

* Seek rock, but not at the expense of scissors * Seek scissors, but not at the expense of paper * Seek paper, but not at the expense of rock

* Seek lizard, but not at the expense of spock
* Seek spock, but not at the expense of rock

EU goes:

[noundi]

STRIKE THREE! France, you're out! :D