AUTHORS' RIGHTS : PARIS PUTS GRADUATED RESPONSE' ON AUDIOVISUAL COUNCIL'S AGENDA.

Highly controversial in the context of the revision of EU telecoms rules (telecoms package), the protection of authors' rights online came up again in the conclusions adopted by the Audiovisual Council, on 20 November in Brussels, recommending in particular the much-criticised graduated response' system that France wants to create against piracy.

The conclusions cite "among the concrete solutions" against illegal downloading "the implementation of non-legal, educational and progressive mechanisms". Criticised by defenders of consumers' and individual liberties and rejected by the majority of the European Parliament, this mechanism sets out cutting the internet connection for three months to a year in the event of repeated piracy, after warnings (e-mail, then a registered letter) from the independent administrative high authority for the distribution of works and the protection of rights on the internet (HADOPI).

COMMON SOLUTIONS

More generally, member states are asked "to launch or encourage as soon as possible, concerted solutions between the parties concerned," primary among which are the rights holders and internet service providers. The French bill is based on this kind of consultation. The draft conclusions cite, among existing solutions, awareness campaigns and self-regulation and co-regulation agreements.

"The illegal supply online of cultural and creative content still presents considerable potential for development in Europe," stresses the...