COPYCENSE

“What began late last year as an effort by France to ratify the European copyright standard is now likely to produce some of the weakest penalties in the world for Internet music piracy — the equivalent of a parking ticket.

“The light penalties for piracy that legal commentators say the final legislation is likely to prescribe have been described by some members of the music industry as the equivalent of an economic firing squad. Others speak of a betrayal of the principles of Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the 18th-century playwright whom the French credit with inventing the concept of copyright to protect authors.”

Thomas Crampton. Will France, Birthplace of Copyright, Go Soft On Piracy? International Herald Tribune. March 13, 2006.

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the intersection of business, law and technology. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.