quote:

A recently enacted French law that gives the government the right to deny Internet access to anyone caught downloading movies and other copyrighted material three times was struck down Wednesday by the French Constitutional Council, which said only the courts had the power to disconnect Internet users. It said that it regarded “free access to public communication services online” as a human right, siding with free-speech advocates who argued that the new law denied the accused the right to challenge the government’s charges in court. The legislation had been strongly pushed by filmmakers, including the Motion Picture Association of America, as well as recording-rights groups and television producers. Mark Mulligan, an analyst at Forrester Research, told the New York Times: "What this highlights is the danger of using legislation and the courts to further your business aims. You become a victim of the whole process."