While countless people download files illegally in the United States, it is common knowledge that some of the best hackers are located somewhere in Europe. Ask any file sharing enthusiast and they will name their favorite hacker, probably someone in Europe. And that is why the telecommunications sector in the European Union is gearing up its campaign to encourage legal downloading.
PC World recently featured this issue and this is what they had to say:
ETNO, the European Telecommunications Network Operators Association, launched a Web site Monday designed to raise awareness about the music, movies and TV programs legally offered online through its members, Europe’s largest telecom providers.
The aim is to reduce the amount of illegal downloading of content online, and comes as European lawmakers consider pleas from the record industry and Hollywood movie studios to clamp down harder on the practice.
Naturally, those who are producing legal material are not satisfied with these efforts. They want their money, and they want it fast. Some countries in the EU have taken more drastic measures against those who engage in illegal downloading. Take the example of France. They “have taken a more draconian approach to online copyright abuse by threatening to ban illegal file sharers from the Internet with the so-called three strikes and you are out rule.â€
We shall see how this new move by ETNO will affect downloading – both the legal and illegal. In my mind, I think that they have to go further than creating awareness. What do you think?