France: Copyright Is More Important Than Human Rights
Found on Techdirt on Tuesday, 06 September 2011
It's no secret that Nicolas Sarkozy is a strong supporter of more draconian copyright laws, and has also been talking about the need to clamp down on free expression online. Even so, it's still a bit shocking to see him outright declare that copyright is more important than human rights online.
It appears the French government is saying that it refuses to sign a declaration concerning human rights online unless those who sign on agree to admit that freedom of expression and communication is less important than copyright.
Human rights and freedom both don't have a massive lobbying power behind them. Sarkozy has a lobbyist for the entertainment industry in his own bed.