Christine Albanel, the situation in the music industry has been gloomy for several years. What role does the state have in this crisis?
The state plays a crucial role in cultural industries. Its mission towards them is significant. It must create conditions that allow their development. The government is on the front line in the fight against piracy. It must establish legal offerings and the Internet creation law. The state needs to support young creators, intervene in compensation for private copies, and increase fair compensation on radios. It must act in all these sometimes technical areas for citizens but which represent around thirty million euros. We must assume our responsibilities.
When do you hope the Internet Creation Law will be reviewed by the National Assembly?
[The draft law aims to stop illegal downloading of cultural works on the internet and wishes to create a legal framework essential for the development of legal offerings of music, movies, works, and audiovisual programs, including literary works on new communication networks – editor note]
I hope it will be by the end of February. We will prepare the decrees and the regulatory environment to act swiftly as soon as it is voted. There is far too much illegal downloading. Take the example of cinema. There is as much piracy as there are admissions to theaters, that is 450,000 per day.
Is the removal of DRM* a positive aspect?
It’s very positive. Everything that was blocking and preventing listening to music from one medium to another is removed. It won’t stop piracy acts because there are always ways to do it. But I am convinced that we are on the right track.
Is the future written in digital ink?
Absolutely. Digital is everywhere. France is a leader and very watched at the moment all over Europe. One can see that this is not laissez-faire.
Will internet service providers be encouraged to anticipate the adoption of the law?
Everyone must anticipate. Our services will have to do it, but so will the providers. They will have to respond to the demands of the future High Authority. They will have to provide the internet user’s address. But they will only be a mailbox.
