France rejects 'three-strike' law

In a surprise outcome French lawmakers rejected a bill that would have forced ISPs to suspend the accounts of surfers who repeatedly download pirated music and movies.

The bill, which has already received initial approval from both houses of Parliament, would have given authorities the power to trace illegal downloads.

Under the proposed law, pirates would have their accounts suspended for a period of two months to one year but would continue to pay for their internet accounts while suspended.

The bill was expected to be passed and would have put France at the forefront of countries fighting illegal downloading.

A near-empty National Assembly held a vote, the bill was rejected by a vote of 21-15. Most of those voting were opposition Socialists, who had opposed the measure from the outset.

Sweden has recently passed a controversial new law to protect copyright called the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive or IPRED.

Herve Rony of the French Union of Phonographic Producers, a lobby group for recording artists and labels, said that the bill would have helped rein in the web and teach the public that music has a price.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had added his support to the bill, but opposition politicians have criticitsed the bill as "inefficient, useless and technically inapplicable".