Hugh Schofield’s story “New Internet piracy law comes into effect in France” at BBC News covers French efforts to combat internet piracy in the new decade.  The “Creation and Internet Law” went into effect in France on Dec 31, 2009. The law is also known as the HADOPI law, based on the abbreviation of the new French governmental agency that will police Internet usage. HADOPI will send a warning Email to alleged internet pirates, before escalating to sending certified warning letters and ultimately, a court order to appear before a judge. The article quotes Michel Thiolliere, a French Senator, as saying “What we think is after the first message ... about two thirds of the people (will) stop their illegal usages of the internet.” I’m heartened by the French approach: it recognizes that technology alone is incapable of stopping Internet piracy. Laws, legal enforcement, and general awareness will also be required to protect intellectual property, in all of its forms, on the Internet. This will be a huge undertaking by the French government. One source estimates there could be as many as 10,000 warning Emails, 3,000 certified warning letters, and 1,000 judicially ordered Internet suspensions—every day.

—Jim Herbeck