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Hefty fine for French downloader

A schoolteacher in France has been fined 10,200 euros (£5,415) for illegally swapping hundreds of music albums on the internet.

The 28-year-old man must pay the money to copyright companies, in a decision aimed at deterring others.

 

Officials said he was one of the worst offenders for sharing music online, making available up to 10,000 songs.

 

The fine was less than half the amount called for by the copyright companies who pay out money to artists.

 

The unnamed man was found guilty of transferring 30 gigabytes of music files - the equivalent of 614 albums.

 

'Absurd lawsuits'

 

He also had his computer confiscated and was ordered to take out newspaper advertisements announcing the verdict and punishment.

 

The maximum fine for prolific music swapping on the internet is 300,000 euros and a possible three-year jail term.

 

The court case came as 70 musicians, academics and politicians signed a petition calling for a halt to legal action against people who download music for their own use.

 

"Like at least eight million other French people, we have also downloaded music online and are thus part of a growing number of 'criminals'. We ask that these absurd lawsuits stop," the petition published in the Nouvel Observateur states.

 

Among those adding their name to calls to adapt copyright laws to embrace developments on the internet are Amelie composer Yann Tiersen, singer and political activist Manu Chao and campaigning politician Noel Mamere.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/ente...sic/4231973.stm

 

Published: 2005/02/03 10:42:29 GMT