It is decided, the National Assembly adopted the text of the law against piracy. In the coming weeks, ARCOM, the new digital policeman, will be able to block pirate sites publishing illegal content. A big blow for IPTV sites, which have been booming in recent years.
Since the various containment measures, pirate sites, in particular IPTV, have grown considerably. Currently, the market weighs 2 billion euros according to estimates from the Digital Citizens Alliance. In France, 24% of Internet users consume illegal streaming, that is to say a huge shortfall for rights holders. They were quick to put pressure on the government to draft a new law against the phenomenon.
Yesterday, the National Assembly definitively adopted the bill on “The regulation and protection of access to cultural works in the digital age”, an amendment presented last April. The latter goes greatly improve the authorities’ fight against piracy, in particular by making it possible to require the closure of sites.
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France declares war on piracy
At the heart of this struggle is Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom), the merger between Hadopi and the CSA. This new digital policeman will have a much wider field of action, unlike its predecessor which only concerned peer-to-peer downloading. As such, the body should prove to be much more effective during the final entry into force, scheduled for January 2022.
Mediator between judicial bodies, beneficiaries and ISPs, Arcom will have the power to speed up proceedings against pirate sites. In particular, it may order their immediate closure as well as that of mirror sites, highly prized for escaping sanctions. France thus affirms its desire to fight against illegal content, a fight that started at the beginning of the year when 8 IPTV sites were blocked.
Bad news for pirates, therefore, but relief for rights holders who have been calling for more regulation for months. Sports channels, particularly affected by illegal streaming, in particular, have emerged as the big winners from the adoption of this law.