The following statement is attributable to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“The decision of France’s Constitutional Court striking down the country’s law allowing Internet users to be disconnected on the accusation of a copyright violation is a clear and persuasive signal to media moguls around the world that this type of policy is unacceptable. Coming after New Zealand declined to adopt their version of “three strikes,” the message is unmistakeable.
“In its decision, the French court made clear that the concept of innocent until proven guilty in a court of law still holds in that country, as it still holds here.
“We call on the content industries to stop their nefarious campaign to deprive Internet users of their Internet access on the whim of an accuser, or force users to prove their innocence. That is not a legitimate judicial standard by any measure we know.
“Perhaps this decision will now allow a telecommunications reform package in Europe to move forward, as this issue, pushed by large media companies, was the stumbling block to adoption.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.