French Internet piracy law defeated...

France's parliament rejected a bill on Thursday that proposed disconnecting Internet users if they download music or films illegally, with the ruling UMP party failing to turn out in force to approve the law.

Backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy's government, the legislation was meant to quell the flow of free songs and films on the Internet that has hurt the revenues of artists and production companies.

However, opposition politicians managed to defeat it at a final vote in the National Assembly on Thursday when only a small number of UMP lawmakers turned up for the session, handing the center-right government an embarrassing defeat. More...

See also:

1. Internet traffic plummets in Sweden as web piracy law comes into effect...
2. New Zealand says no to "three strikes and you're out" internet law...
3. British musicians: music downloading is NOT a crime...