French approve copyright bill with many new changes
Posted on 22/03/06 14:41 by Dan Bell                             
French approve copyright bill with many new changes

RTV71 used our news submit to tell us the latest in the story concerning the French and their legal systems view of DRM controls. What makes this bill interesting, is now DRM will have to be shared. In other words, if Apple wants an iTunes store in France, this is fine, as long as they make that DRM source available to others that wish to produce hardware that can accept it.

However, there are many facets to this bill. For one thing, it legalizes DRM in France. Before, an audio CD for instance that contained DRM, was considered to have a hidden flaw and end users had a right to legal redress. Not any more, this bill changes all that. Another impact has to do with P2P file sharing programs, including mapping out the parameters for use of such programs. In addition, corresponding fines for abuse of P2P for downloading and uploading copyrighted works were determined.

The French National Assembly approved a digital copyright bill on Tuesday that will require DRM (digital rights management) developers to reveal details of their technology to rivals that wish to build interoperable systems. The bill could affect the FairPlay DRM used by Apple Computer Inc. in its iTunes Music Store and iPod music players, and Microsoft Corp."s Windows Media DRM, used by rival French music stores Fnac.com and Virginmega.fr to lock downloaded tracks to particular music players.

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In addition, the bill will make it illegal to develop, distribute or promote P-to-P (peer-to-peer) software for purposes other than collaborative working, research purposes or the exchange of noncommercial works. In addition, if French Internet users are found to have traded illicit files using such software, they will face a fine of $46 per infraction for downloading, or $182 per infraction for uploading. The bill calls on the Council of State to determine what level of trading constitutes an infraction.

Those interested, may wish to visit Computerworld in order to view the article at the source.

Source: Computerworld

Reactions
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By Hypnosis4U2NV, Wednesday 22 March 2006 15:17
Hypnosis4U2NVIs there anywhere in this world that the RIAA doesnt have their hands in tsomeones pockets? I guess the people dont have a voice at all..
By bkf, Wednesday 22 March 2006 15:29
bkfIs there anywhere in this world that people actually care about the RIAA anymore
By Fano, Wednesday 22 March 2006 19:28
You will care if they call you your door.
By Moris, Wednesday 22 March 2006 20:08
In France, we don't have RIAA, but the SACEM, which is even worse. There is is already a big tax on every blank CD and DVD sold in france (1.45€ of tax on a DVD !), and nobody knows what the SACEM does with all the money collected.puke
[edited by Moris on 22.03.2006 20:09]
By Roj, Wednesday 22 March 2006 20:31
To answer questions pose din this thread: Canada. They're trying hard but we've never been RIAA friendly here.
By Xecuter2, Wednesday 22 March 2006 22:14
Xecuter2We all know what Apple is going to do... They are going to quit selling iTunes in France. I cannot see Apple giving their DRM technology to other manufacturers. I bet this will only hurt the consumers.
By Roj, Wednesday 22 March 2006 22:22
Hurt consumers? Any cessation of sales of ripoff products such as iTunes (lossy content criminally overproced) can only HELP consumers IMNSHO.
By Xecuter2, Wednesday 22 March 2006 22:29
Xecuter2You might not use or like iTunes, but that is beside the point. Lots and lots of people do use iTunes for a variety of reasons. If, and I do mean IF, Apple were to pull out of France, then anyone who used iTunes might not be able to. (Please, no more cheap-shots about iTunes being over-priced, low-quality, blah blah blah...)
By Saruman, Thursday 23 March 2006 13:17
Commmme ON! Apple will not pull out of France. They have been given a perfect loophole. The law only says that they have to share their DRM with other companies that want to produce an IPod compatible device, so Apple creates a spinoff or two, "gives" them access to the DRM to produce their non-IPod, IPods and the law is satisfied but noone wins because there will be no true competition. Secondly, Apple would not pull out of France because there's still too much money to be made through ITunes, so even if Apple were to allow a couple of true competitors to use their DRM to creat IPod compatibles, they still win in selling ITunes to the people who buy the music for their non-IPod IPods. Win-Win for Apple and probably Lose-Lose for the French people.
By gowap, Thursday 23 March 2006 16:17
This news (and the Computerworld source article) is missing an important part about DRM in the new french law : usage of means to circumvent a DRM will be punished with a EUR 750 fine; creation of means to circumvent a DRM with a EUR 3,750 fine; publishing of means or information to circumvent a DRM with a EUR 30,000 fine and 6 months of prison. So we will have to remove dozens of programs , many articles/tutorials and close some forums. Apart from hardware considerations, i think the only thing which last is talking about making a diaporama or a compilation of own data files with Nero cry
By drunkndisordly, Friday 24 March 2006 05:03
How many times do you want to listen to the same song anyway.After I hear a new tune on the car radio a few times I had enough.I haven't bought any music since 2001 and don't miss it at all.I broke my addiction by pure abstinence.Which songs are you in need of having available 24/7 forever?
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