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Spain warned on filesharing cut-offs

Slow down there José

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Communications Commissioner Viviane Reding has warned Spain to look carefully at proposals to cut off alleged illegal filesharers.

She said such a policy ran counter to European values and laws and that a new approach to protecting intellectual property was required.

Reding said: "If Spain cuts off internet access without a procedure in front of a judge, it would certainly run into conflict with the European Commission."

She said repression alone would not solve the problem and that any action needed to be fair, impartial and presume the innocence of those accused, according to EU Observer.

Spain, which already taxes digital devices which could be used for copying like blank DVDs and memory sticks, is believed to be considering similar moves to France - a "three strikes and you're out" policy of banning frequent illegal file sharers. Although recent comments from Culture Minister, Angeles González-Sinde suggested the law might focus on people making money from copyright infringement.

Reding's longer term view is that there needs to be a common market for copyright works across Europe. Reding said: "The lifting of impediments to the cross-border online distribution of creative works will improve the supply of attractive and affordable services that are legal.

"In turn, this will reduce the temptation for consumers to indulge in the illicit consumption of copyright-protected material." ®

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These are not the files you seek

Everyone knows hope taping killed the recording industry.

Will be interesting to see what the new President of Europe thinks about Mandys landgrabs.

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what about grey imports

"The lifting of impediments to the cross-border online distribution of creative works will improve the supply of attractive and affordable services that are legal."

Eh... CDWOW

@AC 12:42 GMT

Eh.... Granny will not get an aplology, instead she will be promptly arrested under RIPA for failing to reveal the whereabouts of her encrypted hard drive and be locked up in a mental asylum for the rest of her life.

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