Hadopi law marks first nine months

After nine months in force, France’s Hadopi authority – charged with implementing the country’s controversial antipiracy law – has delivered initial email warnings to about 470,000 internet users for illegally downloading content, according to local reports.

Second warnings in the form of written letters have been sent to just over 20,000 people, and about 10 or so cases are at the third and final stage in the ‘three strikes’ process, where legal proceedings could be initiated.

The Hadopi authority has demanded IP addresses of one million alleged illegal downloaders from the country’s ISPs, out of a total of 18 million infractions identified by rightsholders. There has been some criticism of the random nature of the selection process, and also of security problems related to TMG, the company charged by rightsholders with surveying illegal download networks.