The bill was rejected last month in a defeat for Mr Sarkozy as many members of his party failed to turn up for the vote at the 577-member lower house. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS - FRENCH lawmakers are to vote on Tuesday on a tough bill to combat Internet piracy by cutting off the web to illegal downloaders, capping one of the sharpest debates of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency.
The National Assembly, dominated by Mr Sarkozy's right wing party, is expected to approve the legislation that would punish those who pirate music and film by shutting down their Internet accounts for up to a year. It is due to go before the Senate for final adoption on Wednesday.
The 'Creation and Internet' bill has enjoyed broad support from the music and film industry in France and abroad, including the powerful Directors Guild of America which has thrown its weight behind the measure.
But consumer groups and the Socialist opposition warn it will be difficult to implement and is unnecessarily harsh on downloaders who would have to continue paying their subscription fee after they are cut off.
The bill was rejected last month, in a surprise defeat for Mr Sarkozy as many members of his party failed to turn up for the vote at the 577-member lower house. A new slightly amended version was re-submitted two weeks ago.
Under the bill, a state agency known by the acronym 'Hadopi' will be set up to track and punish those who pirate music and movies on the Internet, serving as a go-between for content providers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
It will set up a 'three-strikes' system for offenders who first receive an email warning, then a letter and finally lose their Internet account for up to a year if they are caught a third time.
The Socialist opposition has already said it plans to ask the Constitutional Council, France's highest authority, to rule on the legality of the legislation. The European parliament also threw up a hurdle last week after it approved an amendment to a wide-ranging telecoms package saying that the basic rights of Internet users cannot be restricted without a court order.
Once approved, the first Internet cutoffs could be decided early next year, according to legislative rapporteur Franck Riester. Supporters hope the bill will wean web users away from pirated films and music, and towards fledgling legal download sites. -- AFP
Voting on the bill is expected to begin at the National Assembly shortly after 4pm (10pm on Wednesday Singapore time). -- AFP
