French courts will not be able to disconnect convicted file-sharers from the internet anymore.[1][2] On 8th July 2013, the French Culture minister issued a decree modifying the graduated response scheme and removing the disconnection penalty.[3]
Under the graduated response mechanism introduced in 2009-2010, French courts were able to disconnect people who had been found guilty of file-sharing for up to one month. (See my recent presentation on the topic).
So far, only one such disconnection has been ordered. It will probably be the only one.
However, the ability to fine illegal file-sharers up to €1,500 remains.
Also, as noted by Rees, this revocation for the moment only applies to the petty offence defined in the graduated response mechanism.[4] The ability to disconnect for up to one year remains in more serious cases of copyright infringement misdemeanour.
[1] Marc Rees, ‘Hadopi : la suspension est abrogée, l’échange avec les FAI est automatisé’, PC INpact.com, 9 July 2013 <http://www.pcinpact.com/news/81084-hadopi-suspension-est-abrogee-echange-avec-fai-est-fluidifie.htm>.
[2] Guillaume Champeau, ‘Hadopi : la suspension d’accès est morte, reste 1500 euros d’amende’, Numerama.com, 9 July 2013 <http://www.numerama.com/magazine/26460-hadopi-la-suspension-d-acces-est-morte-reste-1500-euros-d-amende.html>.
[3] Décret n° 2013-596 du 8 juillet 2013 supprimant la peine contraventionnelle complémentaire de suspension de l’accès à un service de communication au public en ligne et relatif aux modalités de transmission des informations prévue à l’article L. 331-21 du code de la propriété intellectuelle, .
[4] Rees, ‘Hadopi : la suspension est abrogée, l’échange avec les FAI est automatisé’, above n 1.