Is Nicholas Sarkozy One Strike Towards Losing His Internet Connection?

from the it's-always-those-politicians... dept

Why is it always the politicians who are pushing for stronger copyright laws that are caught infringing on the copyrights of others? The latest is that French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, a big supporter of setting up a three strikes law in France, is being accused of violating copyright law himself. Apparently, he used the music of an American band, MGMT, at an event and in two online videos. In the US, use at an event would be okay assuming that the venue had paid a standard performance license — but use in the video would most likely be infringement. I’m not quite sure how France’s current copyright laws match up, but it certainly does seem pretty questionable for a politician going on about the harm done by people sharing music without paying for it to be doing the same. So, the obvious question arises: does this mean Sarkozy is now only two strikes away from losing his internet connection? If he believe so strongly in such things, this shouldn’t be a problem, right?

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Comments on “Is Nicholas Sarkozy One Strike Towards Losing His Internet Connection?”

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38 Comments
R. Miles says:

Re: Re:

people stealing music!
Excuse me, but how in hell can you steal an infinite item?

As far as the video goes, it’s absolutely stupid to be charged a fee for its use. I can understand if they sell the video with the music in it.

Copyright blows. Just outlaw copyright altogether and the world will be a much, much better place.

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re:

Your point is moot. Millions of people using copyrighted material of others without seeking permission or providing compensation is illegal but so is a single person doing so. The number of people has nothing to do with whether it is illegal or not. However being a public figure who is vocal in his views on copyright law he should be aware of the hypocrisy of his actions. It’s not as if it would have been challenging for him to have sought MGMT’s permission. I’m not arguing with you that the likelihood of any real loss of revenue for MGMT and their label would have occured as that is President Sarkozy’s position not mine.

Jesse says:

Number 3: Looks like someone is missing the irony.

Of course Sarkozy doesn’t understand the implications of the laws he is proposing. If he did, he wouldn’t be proposing them. I’m sure he thinks only hardened bad guys are going to be affected by this; I bet he thinks it is impossible for average joes like himself to be accused of copyright infringement.

RD says:

No no no

You are ALL missing the point: This kind of law ONLY applies to the COMMON MAN. This does NOT and has never intended to be applied to the ELITE, or those in government. They are, by defacto default, exempt from any such laws. You need to get your “politician-to-real-people” filters in place and read these news items for what they really mean. Come on now…

Anonymous Coward says:

HA HA HA HA HA , cant wait till all these arseholes get kicked off the internet and can leave the rest to us to the present while they DIE IN THE PAST!

Just gives me goose bumps thinking about how quick the RIAA would get 3 strikes and off the internet with thier own damn BS!

Boycott all these arseholes and ALL that support them…

RIAA
MPAA
SONY
BONO
PRINCE
METALLICA

the list goes on….
NOT 1 CENT!

eleete (user link) says:

Re: Copyright violation

Let’s hope the courts receive the sharp lesson, and punishes brutally those responsible for imposing this mess on Themselves and ALL others. Then the lesson will be clear. Decrease, don’t increase the reach of IP laws in the new era. I expect to see this more often. Imagine polluticians are now being painted as pirates, oh the irony.

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