Assembly Votes Surprise Non on French Web Piracy Law

The French legislature has put a stop—for now—to an anti-piracy law that would deny Internet access to repeat offenders, AFP reports. The law, a pet of President Nicolas Sarkozy, would deal the ultimate blow to illegal downloaders after three strikes, and replace the current regime of fines and prison time. An opposition leader called the vote, encouraged by the telecom industry and privacy advocates, a “personal defeat” for Sarko.

“This vote delays the adoption of the text but it won’t block it,” said an official from Sarkozy’s conservative party, noting that the bill will return to parliament at the end of the month. (More internet stories.)