03 April 2009 | Author: O. Gaywood Media Optimiser

Sweden and France bring in new piracy laws

On 1 April Sweden - the home of Pirate Bay - brought in new anti-piracy laws that give copyright holders the right to make internet service providers handover details of users who share files. According to government figures, around 8% of the Swedish population shares files illegally online.

On the first day of the new regulation, internet traffic in the Scandinavian country fell by 33% - something that was not entirely unexpected by Christian Engstrom, the vice chairman of the Swedish Pirate Party.

On Wednesday he said: "Today, there is a very drastic reduction in internet traffic. But experience from other countries suggests that while file-sharing drops on the day a law is passed, it starts climbing again."

"One of the reasons is that it takes people a few weeks to figure out how to change their security settings so that they can share files anonymously."

"We estimate there are two million file-sharing [computers] in Sweden, so even if they prosecuted 1,000 people to make an example of them, for an individual user it is still a very small risk."

Meanwhile in France, the National Assembly has passed a 'three strikes' law in an attempt to cut down on illegal file sharing.

Anyone suspected of downloading what they are not entitled to will receive a letter recommending that the user checks to see if anyone is using their internet connection unlawfully. If illegal activity is traced back to the same user within the next six months they will receive a similar message and be reminded that securing their internet connection is their own responsibility and that having it hijacked will not be an excuse in the eyes of the law.

If downloading continues after the second letter - at any point in the 12 months - the user can be stripped of their access to the internet for any time period from one month to one year.

Opponents to the law argue that this it is in itself illegal, following a European Parliament vote ensuring that all citizens be granted internet access as a fundamental human right, as well as protection put in place by the French Constitution. If this is upheld, the new law will still be able to charge fines or other penalties.

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