And it is not even law
yet
Even before it's officially adopted, France's controversial
anti-piracy law has already claimed its first victim.
Jérôme
Bourreau-Guggenheim, head of web innovation at one of the largest TV-networks in
France has been fired because he criticised the law in a letter to his
MP.
The 'HADOPI' (Creation and Internet) law requires ISPs to send warnings
to alleged copyright infringers, who would eventually lose their Internet access
upon receiving their third warning. Additionally, the new law would make it
possible to order ISPs to block sites such as The Pirate Bay. President Sarkozy
is believed to have gathered enough support to get it signed into action.
According to the Frech news outlet Ecrans it all started on February 19.
Jérôme, like many other French citizens, decided to write an email to Françoise
de Panafieu, his representative in the French Parliament in order to vent his
personal opinion. Jérôme write that implementing the law would be a
disaster, urging his MP to vote against it.
This is a democracy right? Apparently not when the Music and Film industry is involved. Apparently the
MP was so miffed that Jérôme wrote to him and demanded that he do something that
was not in favour of the Jack Booted Music and Film industry that he forwarded
the letter to the Minster of Culture. The Minister complained to Jérôme's
boss. Who fired him for being exercising his democratic rights in a built up
area after the hours of darkness.
Jérôme has hired an lawyer and will appeal
his dismissal, since it's discrimination based on political views, which has
nothing to do with his work performance.
The Ministry of Culture admits that
the email was leaked to TF1 through his office but claims he does not know how
it ended up at TF1. But the French have another problem with their daft
anti-democratic law. Besides the fact that it will not give anyone the legal
right to stand up to the Music and Film industry if they accuse them of
piracy.
The EU recently said that such a law would be against the rights of
all EU citizens. It is unlikely that the French government would want to cede
from the EU over a matter of copyright.