According to the report from Associated Press French lawmakers declined to pass the bill that was developed to prevent Internet subscribers from illegal downloading music or films by cutting off their connections. As the edition notes the rejection on the part of the government was unexpected.

The bill would have created the world’s first government agency to watch for those downloading music and films on the internet in breach of the licensing rights. That agency if created would also be authorized to punish violators.

Earlier the bill was passed by the lower house of parliament last week. On Thursday a small number of lawmakers came to finalize the measure. Thus in a near-empty National Assembly the bill was rejected by a vote of 21-15.

The bill was welcomed by the music and film industries who expected the legislation would boost revenues and crack down on illegal downloading. Meantime critics note that such measure would be too tough to apply and besides it undermines freedoms.

Source: The Associated Press