French Anti-P2P Hadopi Funding To Drop 23%

The French government's anti-P2P agency known as HADOPI, named after the HADOPI law, is set to lose 23% of its funding next year. Earlier this year, the agency took down its first offender under the law, which brings the banhammer (or a fine, situation dependent) on individuals who are issued three warnings regarding piracy. The HADOPI program will be extended into 2013 despite previous hints that this would be its last year.

Back in September, a French court said Alain Prevost had to pay a $194 fine for leaving his wifi network unsecured while ignoring warnings that were issued regarding piracy. The issue arose when his wife, who admitted guilt in court, downloaded two Rihanna songs. Prevost was the owner of the account used, and was thusly fined after stating that network was unsecured, incriminating himself.

According to the French government document "2013 Report on Indepedent Public Authorities," HADOPI's budget for 2013 is being cut from €10.3 million to €8 million. This is the third drop in a row, with the 2011 budget coming in at €11.4 million. This comes after a statement in August by the French Minister of Culture Aurelie Filippetti indicating that the program was going to get the kibosh.

The United States is slated to have a similar program in place this year called the Copyright Alert System. The CAS will utilize MarkMonitor to pinpoint piracy, and is funded by the five big ISPs: Verizon, AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable. Customers get six-strikes, and can appeal for a $35 fee, which is refunded if they win.

[via ars technica]