French law allows families to be disconnected if one member is accused (without evidence) of violating copyright
(crossposted from CreativeFreedom.org.nz)
BoingBoing.net reports that French parliament has passed a new three strikes law. CW summarises “The proposed law takes its “three strikes” nickname from the three accusations of copyright infringement that must be leveled at surfers before their internet access is suspended [...] Under the bill approved this week, it would be up to a court to impose final sanctions — but the Hadopi may call for the decision to be made by a single judge, without cross-examination of witnesses. [...] Internet subscribers would be held liable if someone uses their internet connection to illegally download copyright works — even if that happens because their computer was attacked by malware and fell under someone else’s control, or their wireless internet access was inadequately secured.”. 25% of computers in New Zealand are infected with malware that distributes information without the owners knowledge. As BoingBoing point out “since one has no material way of opposing the validity of these “evidences”, this new version of the graduated response still clearly violates the presumption of innocence.” Although the law only requires the signature of President Nicolas Sarkozy the law will soon be challenged as being against the constitution in the Constitutional Council.
