French Bill enacts ISP responsibility for piracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 May 2009

French Senate adopts Bill enacting ISP responsibility for online piracy

The French Senate has adopted the Creativity & Internet Bill that adopts a graduated response approach to online piracy.

A graduated response approach means internet service providers (ISPs) respond to known repeat copyright infringements on their networks by sending those customers warnings in the first instance and ultimately disconnected their service if they fail to respond to repeated warnings and other measures.

With an overwhelming vote, the French Senate passed the Bill that will require ISPs to take responsibility for online piracy occurring via their networks.

NZFACT, APRA and RIANZ today joined to welcome the passage of the legislation through the French Senate.

Executive Director of NZFACT Tony Eaton said that global momentum was now moving towards acknowledging ISP’s have a role to play in the fight against internet piracy.

“Internet piracy is a huge concern for the creative communities and we are delighted that around the world, parliaments are moving to address this problem.

“We all join together to commend the New Zealand Government for their commitment to preventing online piracy and we look forward to its review of s92A Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008 and its adoption in the not too distant future,” he said.

ENDS

Piracy in New Zealand
A study undertaken by independent research firm LEK Consulting on behalf of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) showed that piracy cost the film industry in New Zealand an estimated 25 percent of the potential market in 2005 – $70 million. Internet piracy via P2P file-sharing networks is a significant concern and accounts for the majority of New Zealand movie industry losses – an estimated $33 million in lost consumer spending in 2005. NZFACT represents the MPA in New Zealand.

About NZFACT: The New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft was established in 2005 by the Motion Picture Association to protect the film industry in New Zealand from the adverse impact of copyright theft. NZFACT works closely with its members, government and enforcement authorities to protect the New Zealand film and television industry, retailers and movie fans. NZFACT members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, New Zealand; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Releasing International Corporation; Twentieth Century Fox International Corporation; Universal International Films, Inc.; and Warner Bros. Pictures International, a division of Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.
NZFACT works in association with the Motion Picture Association, which represents the interests of the film industry across the world. NZFACT also has an alliance with the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand to share information regarding copyright infringement, and is a member of the recently-formed Anti Counterfeiting Group, which represents the interests of New Zealand’s major intellectual property stakeholders, such as the music industry, computer software and publishing. NZFACT has a nationwide hotline that enables the reporting of film copyright theft 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0800 267 9744.

© Scoop Media