Billboard reported Friday that the French government has started legislation "designed to control online piracy" through a controversial law that creates a new independent authority, HADOPI, that "will act on the request of rights holders, and will be entitled to demand from Internet service providers the identity of copyright-infringing computer users." The HADOPI will be in charge of "issuing warnings and potentially cutting infringers' Internet subscription" via a three-step process.

The new law has yet to pass through the French government's two Houses of Parliament, but if enacted the HADOPI will begin by warning users via an e-mail that their infringements have been noted. If the Internet user continues to illegally download, the HADOPI will send a second warning, but by registered letter. No other warning will be given if the user continues to infringe on copyrights and the HADOPI "will be entitled to cut the Internet access of the user for three to 12 months, which can be lowered to one to three months if the infringer commits to stop illicit downloading." Debates over the law are expected to begin soon, aiming to pass the law by early next year.