Ads by TechWords

See your link here
Receive the latest technology news and information.
Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
The Weekly Top 10
Cloud Computing
View all newsletters




Privacy Policy
 

French National Assembly approves copyright bill

It would legalize the use of DRM and drastically limit peer-to-peer apps

March 21, 2006 12:00 PM ET

IDG News Service - The French National Assembly approved a digital copyright bill on Tuesday that will require digital rights management (DRM) developers to reveal details of their technology to rivals that wish to build interoperable systems. The bill could affect the FairPlay DRM used by Apple Computer Inc. in its iTunes Music Store and iPod music players, and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media DRM, which is used by rival French music stores Fnac.com and Virginmega.fr to lock downloaded tracks to particular music players.

Deputies voted 286-193 to approve the bill, called "Authors' rights and related rights in an information society." The bill now goes to the Senate for a second reading and a vote, before it can become law. The government pushed the bill through under emergency procedures that deprive deputies and senators from their usual right to a third and fourth reading of a bill.

Although the bill will force DRM manufacturers to reveal some details of their systems, it will also legalize the use of DRM in France. Today, CDs with a DRM function that prevents the discs from playing on some equipment are considered legally to have concealed flaws, and buyers have a right to legal redress. The bill will change that.

In addition, the bill will make it illegal to develop, distribute or promote peer-to-peer software for purposes other than engaging in collaborative work, research or the exchange of noncommercial works. In addition, if French Internet users are found to have traded illicit files using P2P software, they will face a fine of $46 per infraction for downloading, or $182 per infraction for uploading. The bill calls on the Council of State to determine what level of trading constitutes an infraction.

Other measures in the bill could "threaten [the development of] free and open-source software," according to Patrick Bloche, a deputy who opposed the bill, speaking in the Assembly just before the vote. The bill's restrictions on the ways third-party software can interact with proprietary DRM systems mean that French open-source software developers and researchers will lose out, Bloche said.


Reprinted with permission from

IDG.net
Story copyright 2009 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

Jump to comments

Security

Additional Resources

Xerox
By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!
Microsoft
Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.
Sybase
In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

White Papers & Webcasts

Enterprise Application Delivery: No User Left Behind
Gain the ability to deliver applications to all users, using any device, across any network.  

Gartner: Magic Quadrant for Application Delivery Controllers, 2009
The market for products to improve the delivery of application software over networks remains dynamic and innovative. Vendors focused on solving enterprises' most-pressing...  

Data Protection is not an insurance policy -you cannot buy-back lost data
Find out why you need to maintain access to critical information to run your business and remain competitive.

Chiquita selects Workday's fresh approach to Human Capital Management
A fresh approach to meet IT and HR objectives.  

ITIL in Tough Economic Times
Are you looking for new inspiration to move forward with ITIL in these tough economic times?

The ROI of Software-As-A-Service
A Total Economic Impact™ Analysis Uncovers Long-Term Value In SaaS  

IT Governance Podcast: IT Provider Forecasts $10 Million in Savings
In this podcast, learn how OTS was able to prioritize, then deliver, on the mission-critical demands and, in the process, project $10 million...