Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

French Court Throws Out Anti-Piracy Law

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:26 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – France’s constitutional council today shot down the country’s newly minted “three strikes” law against Internet piracy, Ars Technica reports. The council said the law, which set up an administrative body to punish pirates, violated basic principles of French law, assigning essentially judicial duties to a non-judicial body, and putting the burden of proof on the accused, not the accusers.

“Every man is presumed innocent until he has been proven guilty,” the council wrote, and freedom of speech is “a prerequisite for democracy.” If enacted, the Création et Internet law would have set up a high authority in France, which would warn or sanction file-sharers at copyright holders’ behest. Anyone caught three times would have been forever barred from the Internet.

The French will no longer keep pirates off the internet without a trial.
The French will no longer keep pirates off the internet without a trial.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
democracyrocks
Mar 26, 2010 10:45 AM CDT
They're about to pass such laws here in the UK using the very undemocratic "wash-up" process. Unfortunately, the UK doesn't have a "constitutional council" to protect the people.

 
France • piracy • DVD piracy • copyright • file sharing • copyright infringement • French Constitutional Council

More Newser Stories

'Eye of the Tiger' Singer Violates Newt Copyright

Megaupload Founder Hid From Cops in Panic Room

NZ Pol Tweets About Breaking Her Own Law

Samsung Ripped Off iPhone, iPad: Apple Suit

China's Top Search Engine Is Piracy Hub: US
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne