Vivendi boss advises three strikes used by France should be used in UK

A scathing attack has been launched on ISPs in the UK by Jean-Bernard Levy, the global entertainment chief, saying that they should support the creative industry and the law more, and that the musical heritage of the UK should be protected.

The French “three strikes” model which cuts off the broadband connection of illegal filesharers should be employed in the UK according to Jean-Bernard Levy, the CEO of the French media giant Vivendi.

Levy advised “ISPs should be in favour of legislation to help fight infringers. [They] have to be supportive of the law. Britain should be more in favour of developing the media industries and even if France is ahead in legislation it should be obvious [that the UK should] be doing something like three strikes.”

The possibility of passing legislation similar to that of the French “three strikes” system is something that is hoped for by a number of supporters in the UK. A number of UK broadband providers like BT, Carphone Warehouse and some leading artists in the UK, however, have shown serious opposition to this kind of legislation.

A new agency that will issue anyone that is discovered downloading movies and music illegally with a warning letter is to be set up by the French government.

A written warning is then sent of the offence occurs a second time in six month and then an issuing of a fine or a one year suspension of the internet account is issued by a judge of a third offence occurs.

It was suggested that repeat offenders should have their broadband connection speeds reduced by Lord Carter in the Digital Britain report back in June, although this has been taken forward a step with calls for proposals of disconnecting broadband services temporarily from Lord Mandelson.

Due to a large portion of the huge investment put in increasing broadband capacity is currently going towards supplying users with more bandwidth Mr Levy advised “The interest of ISPs should be in favour of legislation. There is no way at Vivendi that there is an internal debate the priority is to reward and monetise content.”

Source – Telegraph