France's Culture Minister Christine Albanel at the French National Assembly in Paris, after she delivered a speech to present a bill that would punish illegal downloaders by cutting off Internet access. France's culture minister on Wednesday defended a new parliament bill clamping down on Internet piracy that is backed by top music artists but opposed by consumer groups.
France's culture minister on Wednesday defended a new parliament bill clamping down on Internet piracy that is backed by top music artists but opposed by consumer groups.
The proposed "creation and Internet law" has stirred controversy over a provision allowing a state agency to cut off Internet access for up to a year to those caught illegally downloading more than twice.
Taking the parliament floor, Culture Minister Christine Albanel argued the punishment was not too harsh and noted that it replaced current provisions that call for up to three years in prison and 300,000 euros in fines.
The bill "does not aim to eradicate completely the mass phenomenon that is piracy of cultural products on the web," said Albanel.
"It aims rather to create awareness, to shape a new mindset among Internet users with regard to cultural diversity and the economic and legal conditions necessary to preserve it."
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition launched by leading artists supporting the bill including Johnny Hallyday and Charles Aznavour.
In London, the IFPI federation representing the worldwide recording industry came out in favour of the bill, championed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose wife Carla Bruni released her third album last year.
"The music industry internationally strongly supports the creation and Internet law proposed by the French government," said IFPI chairman John Kennedy.
"The proposal is good for a thriving music market in the 21st century, good for music consumers and good for artists, creators and producers whose rights need protecting in the digital world."
Supporters of the bill hope the threat of being cut off will wean web users away from pirated films and music, and towards fledgling legal video and music download sites.
But France's consumer rights group UFC-Que Choisir, has attacked the bill as a "legal monstrosity," saying users risk being cut off before having a chance to challenge the accusations.
A French umbrella group representing 180 high-tech and online businesses, ACSEL, is urging the government to shelve the bill and allow the industry to come up with a better answer to piracy.
Opposition Socialists have vowed to fight the bill in parliament, calling it "an assault on public and individual liberties."
The National Assembly is to debate the bill for two days and could decide to take it up again on March 31.
© 2009 AFP
