By Dan Satherley
A new study shows since adopting a three-strikes law intended to curb internet piracy, illegal downloading in France has increased by 3 percent.
The law, passed in September last year, gives alleged copyright infringers three warnings before charges would be laid.
Supporters of the law argued it was necessary to save the creative industries, and would stamp out downloading. Critics argued it was a blunt, draconian tool that wouldn't achieve anything.
The study, conducted by the University of Rennes, suggests that while BitTorrent use has decreased 15 percent, downloaders have instead switched to using file-hosting services such as MegaUpload and Rapidshare – which according to some internet commentators are not covered by the law, and whose use is harder to detect.
Use of direct-download sites for illegal downloading has increased by 27 percent since September, leading to an overall increase of 3 percent.
A law similar to that in France has been in consideration for New Zealand for some time, but is yet to be passed. A change tabled by the previous Labour government was thrown out after public opposition highlighted aspects of the law which were considered unworkable or unfair. Websites and internet users from around New Zealand co-ordinated an internet 'blackout', changing their home pages or user pics on social networking sites to black, some with a message explaining why.
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