The debate about illegal downloading has been going on for a while. Now, a pioneering new bill in France could regulate the practice. If you download anything illegally just once, your Internet access can be cut off.

France's lower house of Parliament has approved a pioneering bill, allowing authorities to cut off Internet access to people downloading material illegally.

Under the bill, anyone ignoring e-mail warnings could see their connection cut for up to a year. They could also face a fine of 400-thousand US dollars or even jail.

Frederic Mitterrand, French Cultural Minister, said, "Artists will remember that we had the political courage to finally break with the laissez-faire and to protect the rights against those who want to use the Internet as a terrain for Utopian libertarianism."

The bill has attracted attention beyond France. Some say it protects music and film industries from being hurt further.

David El Sayegh, Managing Director National Union of Phono. Publishing, said, "This law is urgent. We need regulation of the Internet. Today, the music industry is aware of a crisis which has lasted for over six years. We have lost half of our revenue during this time. It's extremely urgent to have regulation of the Internet to make users responsible."

Even some Internet users support the bill, saying it is an effective way to protect artists.

Internet user, Supports Internet Bill, said, "More money needs to go towards the artists and we need to support the music industry in that way. And I think if it, if it isn't, if this law isn't passed, if it doesn't become illegal, then it will just keep going in a big cycle."

However, some Internet users think it hard to define "illegal downloading," saying the bill is unreasonable.

Internet user, Supports Internet Bill, said, "When we sanction a law like this, it's disproportionate in comparison to a download. I mean, if you're not downloading for commercial purposes, there's no need to penalize it."

Approval of the bill has been a bumpy ride. It was rejected in April, then adopted in May. In June, it was rejected by the Constitutional Council. It finally won approval in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday.

(CCTV September 17, 2009)