Clamp down on internet piracy
The new administrative body will track down offenders through Internet service providers and send them warnings to stop stealing music and movies or risk losing their Internet subscription.
"There is no reason that the Internet should be lawless," President Nicolas Sarkozy told the cabinet, the government spokesman said.
A first e-mail warning will be sent to suspected downloaders followed by a registered letter. Repeat offenders risk losing their Internet subcription for up to a year.
Violation of copyright laws through illicit downloading is also punishable in France by a fine of up to 300,000 euros and three years in jail.
After presenting the bill to the cabinet, Culture Minister Christine Albanel said it was a balanced text that "takes an essentially preventive and educational approach" to illicit downloading.
The bill is backed by some 40 organisations representing the music and film industry as well as Internet service providers who presented a report to Sarkozy in November on the anti-piracy measures.
"The French are champions when it comes to Internet piracy," said Pascal Rogard, director of the SACD group of song and scriptwriters.
"That’s because many of them have high-speed Internet at home and they are also enthusiastic consumers of cultural products."
The bill, expected to be presented to parliament in the fall and go into force early next year, is intended to tackle the problem from growing legions of Internet pirates.
The new agency, called the High authority for copyright protection and dissemination of works on the Internet (Hadopi), will receive complaints from music and film companies that it can take up with ISPs.
Opponents of the bill including prominent leftists have signed a petition deploring that the new agency will "hunt down individual users, who happen to love culture" and said cutting off Internet service was harsh punishment.
"Nowadays, having access to the Internet is crucial," said Benoit Thieulin, one of the signatories from the opposition Socialist Party.
But Robert predicted that the new warning system would be efficient.
"Hard core Internet pirates will probably continue but for the majority, a clear warning will be make them stop," he said.
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