Hadopi costing too much, says minister

The French culture minister is set to demand cuts in the budget of the Hadopi, the body charged with implementing the country’s controversial ‘three strikes’ antipiracy law of the same name, according to local reports.

The minister, Aurélie Filipetti, said in the Nouvel Observateur that the Hadopi had not fulfilled its mission and was costing too much to run. Filipetti said that a budget of €12 million and a staff of 60 was expensive for “sending a million emails”. Filipetti said details of any cuts to the Hadopi’s budget would be revealed in September.

The new French government has charged former Canal Plus chief Pierre Lescure to investigate the workings of the antipiracy regime. Lescure is set to deliver his report next March.