A man accused of downloading 500 film and music files has been acquitted by the Montpellier Court of Appeals in the south of France, confirming an earlier ruling by a bankruptcy court in Rodez in October last year, says Belgium's Le Vie du Net.

The court said once a work has been made public, it can be copied for personal use.

story here

You know what will happen next. Lobbying and payola will get the law changed.

"The court said once a work has been made public, it can be copied for personal use."

This should be solidly codified into international law.

Score one for the good guys. It's nice to see a little common sense in the world. Hopefully, it's contagious.

Paff! In their faces! Voila Monsieurs les parasites! The defendant said that he was still going to the movie theater once a month. If I was him I would not! So now what about this French teacher that got fined 20,000 Euro for the same thing? Are they going to reverse this too or the justice hall and the Vivendi Universal HeadQuarter must burn?

You know very well why the courts do that.
They give the judgement to the little guy first..that scares the shit out of the corporation...so that they will appeal...but in order for them to appeal and win..they gotta fork over some dough.

Oh the powers that be got it aaaaall figured out!

I agree with independentmusican, PERSONAL USE IS FAIR USE!!

For the first time in my life, I have to say the french have something going for them.

I ... almost ... take back all the things I said about the French ... almost.

Good for the French. At least they have the balls to stand up against U.S. extortionist MPAA /RIAA, unlike other countries whose government is becoming stoolies for these extortionists. Time to get some french fries and french vanilla coffee.