It was rejected by the EU, but the French government has got one step closer to bringing in a "three strikes and you're out*" policy towards internet surfers who download copyright material. 

The French Senate has now voted overwhelmingly in favour of the measure. 

In fact, 297 politician voted for and only 15 against in a cross-party vote. 

The final vote will take place in the French National Assembly where the decision will be taken as to whether to turn the proposal into law. 

The three strikes system was originally introduced a year ago as a memorandum of understanding between the government, ISPs and Big Content in France. 

Meanwhile, over in the UK, the Green Party has criticised any plans to adopt a similar policy as "an attack on civil liberties" while a couple from Scotland were wrongly threatened with a lawsuit or fine for illegally downloading a game. 

The case against the Murdochs has now been dropped after it was found neither had ever played a videogame.


* Three strikes out :  If they caught you (three times) with downloading games or playing  them like on your PSP you will get an ban from the internet for whole your life.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/18890/19914/French-online-three-strikes-out.phtml


I would be okay with it if it was like a month ban or even a year ban....but for whole your life;..No that is going way to far.  Your thoughs?

How exactly do they plan to ban one from the internet entirely? Just a ban within their home or something?

 I guess so.

Silly French. Banning the internet at this point is like banning sunshine.

It's good to be reminded now and again that America doesn't hold the patent on stupidity.

This is really stupid, I hope it doesn't spread to more countries. Obviously there are all sorts of pressure groups trying to spread legislation like this around.

I have the feeling it won't be enforced much though. If it is, it will be really disgusting.

So you'd rather be outlawed from having any sort of job that pays you more than the equivalent of a buck-fifty an hour in favor of being penalized financially, something you can fight and often have reduced?

It's only threatening.

What happens if the law is really applied? I'd say half of the people is downloading stuff illegally. So we ban, for a lifetime, half of the people paying 30€/months to providers??? seriously??

What happens if in a family, the kid downloads some music illegally? who's banned for life? the kid? the parents? the entire familly?

We only need to see some court trials about this silly law and it will calm down...

It's only threatening, I tell you.

 Sorry but I think both ways are quite drastic.  I think I would prefer having an eternal ban than paying an +100.000 fine and going to jail for sometime.  I think that would ruin my life even more.

But serious if you caught twice with downloading software how stupid do you have to be to do it a third time?