French "3-Strikes": Only 4% Quit P2P After 1st Warning

French “3-Strikes”: Only 4% Quit P2P After 1st Warning

Written By Jared Moya

January 14, 2011 | 11 Comments

Survey finds that nearly 75% of file-sharers still illegally download copyrighted material, more than half saying they will be “more vigilant then before,” and the remainder taking no new precautions at all, “convinced they will not be identified.”

The first phase of France’s “three-strikes” graduated response system has been in underway for a little over 3 months now and many, myself included, have wondered just what kind of deterrent effect it’s had on illegal file-sharers.

According to a survey conducted by ZDNet.fr, the effect has been dismal, only a meager “4% of Internet users say they have stopped downloading completely because they feel identifiable.”

Some 15% of those surveyed said they continue to download unabated, 9% of which claimed to be “more vigilant then before,” and the remaining 6% taking no new precautions at all, “convinced they will not be identified.”

Even more telling about the futility of the “three-strikes” law is that 80% replied that they never, or almost never, download content illegally at all.

So when taken all together it appears that nearly 75% of file-sharers still illegally download copyrighted material.

It’s worth mentioning just how dismal the plan has been so far because it’s already been cited as the reason why EVERYBODY’S Internet connection will see a rate hike to compensate ISPs for the cost of complying with the legislation.

The second phase, or “strikes,” of the system is set to take effect very soon so things may change, but so far it’s clearly been unsuccessful, and chances are that it’ll remain that why. Why? Because file-sharers have likely already switched to less identifiable methods of file-sharing such as Usenet or encrypting traffic via VPNs, etc..

Stay tuned.

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Jared Moya
I've been interested in P2P since the early, high-flying days of Napster and KaZaA. I believe that analog copyright laws are ill-suited to the digital age, and that art and culture shouldn't be subject to the whims of international entertainment industry conglomerates. Twitter | Google Plus

So the marketing companies have already started to place comments on the internet to seed discontent towards file sharers. This is likely one of the marketing ploy's of the big media. First you ruin your industry with bad ideas, continue to try and enforce an artificial monopoly when its not possible, lobby government to pass legislation on invented data, and insist that file sharers are to blame for the bad legislation that affects everyone and solves nothing. The reality is the law and politicians are to blame for the increase in fees, not file sharers. If you are pissed off about the increase notify your representative that you do not support the legislation. It has shown to be ineffective to curb file sharing, and isn't required to begin with. There was a independent study done for the Canadian government that showed no net loss from file sharing, as well as another independent study done that showed the same results. File sharing doesn't hurt the bottom line, its a myth, and the sooner the rest of society realizes this, the better we will all be. Its no different then when vcr and other recordable media was demonized by the big media.

Dee it's too bad for you that you and people like you don't have the guts to tell the powers that be that you are NOT going to pay for something you didn't do.

Dee

Great work illegal downloaders - so now as well as ripping off artists and entertainment providers, you are now costing honest internet customers their hard earned money because ISPs have to increase their charges to cover costs of trying to curb the rampant piracy that takes place on the internet. Greedy illegal downloaders have a lot to answer to in their selfishness in taking stuff without paying for it.

aceissmokin9333

Dee, BOO HOO!!! You F$%@in' baby. Cry me a river. I know for a fact that you have ILLEGALLY downloaded MORE than your fair share. So, don't try to act all innocent . KEEP ON WITH ALL THE DL. If you don't want your PRECIOUS ripped off learn how to protect it.

Scary Devil Monastery

I'm surprised it has had any impact whatsoever. Although to be honest, in Sweden when the IPRED law went through we did see a dip in internet traffic for about six months before the traffic surged back to higher levels than before. Just about the time for a few dozen VPN startups to take off and establish attractive pricing, and for the downloaders to sign up to one of them.

Damn, that's even more of a failure than I thought it would be.

French “3-Strikes”: Only 4% Quit P2P After 1st Warning

Survey finds that nearly 75% of file-sharers still illegally download copyrighted material, more than half saying they will be “more vigilant then before,” and the remainder taking no new precautions at all, “convinced they will not be identified.”

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