Hadopi warnings due in September

Anti-piracy body says it is ready to begin its crackdown on illegal downloading, following a series of delays

WEB anti-piracy body Hadopi has confirmed it is finally ready to begin work, with the first warning emails to illegal downloaders due in September.

The official decrees that are necessary for Hadopi to do its job have now been signed and France's data protection body Cnil has approved the group's work.

A decree published in the Journal Officiel on Friday explains that web users have a responsibility to secure their connection - and failing to do so would see them legally responsible if someone else uses their account to illegally download material.

Web monitoring work will begin in mid-July and the first set of email warnings to users who allow their connection to be used for illegal downloading will be sent out in September.

Hadopi will send up to three warnings before the case is taken to court and the access could be cut off.

The group's set-up has hit a series of delays. It missed an April launch date and another in June due to slow progress getting its work legally recognised.

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