I just read an article on zdnet.com about a new policy issued by the French Goverment that is intended to restrict internet access to those users that download a lot of illegal content. The policy is a product of the pact – French Goverment, ISPs and the Music industry which has been calling for action for some time now. The important thing I noticed is that they completely miss the point. It is not the fact that we can download stuff from the internet that is the problem. The whole music market changed – I think iTunes has proven that if we can get open content for a reasonable price – we will buy it. The consumers have spoken – we want to be able to download content via the internet, seamlessly without any hassle. Give us this service! Suing customers is bad for business as well as cutting them off from the one place they still are interested in getting content from. The whole music industry paradigm shifted and I think these people haven’t been able to adapt and therefore will loose in the long run. One other thing – here a quote from the Article:

"The Internet must not become a high-tech Far West, a lawless zone where outlaws can pillage works with abandon or, worse, trade in them in total impunity. And on whose backs? On artists’ backs,"

Nicolas Sarkozy said this and my question would be – if you are so concerned about the artists why aren’t they in your pact? Or do you really think the big Music Labels represent them in this topic rather then themselves?