[gluteus maximus]

From euobserver

The French Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favour of a law that would cut off access to the internet to web surfers who repeatedly download copyrighted music, films or video games without paying.

Under the so-called three strikes or "graduated response" legislation - which still needs approval by the lower house before it becomes French law - illegal downloaders are first sent an email warning them of their infraction. They are subsequently sent a warning letter in the post.

If after this second warning they continue to illegally download copyrighted content, the internet service provider will cut off access to the internet for a year.

The legislation passed with a massive cross-party majority of 297 votes to 15. Only a handful of conservatives, centrists and socialists voted against, while the Communists abstained.

Read more here: http://euobserver.com/9/27026

[johnnydoen]

Originally Posted by gluteus maximus

From euobserver



Read more here: EUobserver

Wasn't this shot down massively by the European Union just a few weeks ago?

[johnnydoen]

Originally Posted by johnnydoen

Wasn't this shot down massively by the European Union just a few weeks ago?

It says so in the end of the article also.

Sometimes the French arrogance is so hard to understand for the rest of us Europeans.

[gluteus maximus]

Originally Posted by johnnydoen

Wasn't this shot down massively by the European Union just a few weeks ago?

Just out of interest, what happens in the US when State laws conflict with Federal laws?

gm

[tomhr]

Originally Posted by gluteus maximus

Just out of interest, what happens in the US when State laws conflict with Federal laws?

gm

It depends.

If the law concerns a federal-government power specifically stated under the US Constitution, then the state law is overpowered by the federal law. (For instance, since the Constitution gives the federal government the powers of interstate commerce, in the 1970s Congress could set a speed limit of 55 mph for interstate highways.) On the other hand, under the Tenth Amendment to the Consitution, the federal government cannot make laws overriding state laws in areas not granted to the federal government in the 1789 Constitution. (Thus for example, Congress cannot simply pass a law banning same-sex marriage; the states' sovereignty regarding marriage law must be respected. The only constitutional way to ban same-sex marriage throughout the USA would be with a Constitutional marriage.)