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source: www.nytimes.com

Judicial authorities in France on Thursday approved sweeping penalties against the illegal copying of music and movies, which could result in violators losing their Internet access by the end of next year.

The country’s highest constitutional court approved the so-called three-strikes law after rejecting an earlier version of it last spring. Supporters say they hope that France, by imposing perhaps the toughest measures yet in the battle against copyright theft, will set a precedent for other countries to follow.

“France is acting as a spearhead,” said David El Sayegh, director general of the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique, the French music industry association. “Piracy is not just a French problem, it is a global problem.”

Critics of the legislation, including many members of the opposition Socialist party, call the sanctions draconian and say they will be ineffective in curbing file-sharing. The law creates a new agency that will send out warning letters to Internet pirates. Those who ignore a second warning could face a yearlong suspension of their Internet access, as well as fines.

Mr. El Sayegh said the first letters could go out as soon as January. The main difference between the initial proposal, which was rejected by the constitutional court, and the version approved Thursday is that a judge, rather than the new agency itself, will be required to sign off on any account suspensions.

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