xbiz world
xbiz premiere

French Court Disallows Copyright Protection

PARIS — A French appeals court has issued a ruling that prohibits the use of Digital Rights Management technology on DVDs. The ruling, in essence, bans the use of DVD-based copyright-protection measures. The case began when a French man was unable to copy a DVD of the film “Mullholland Falls” to a VHS tape. Such private copying is considered a consumer right in France, despite the possibility of abuses such as redistribution of copyrighted materials. With the help of consumer-rights group UFC-Que Choisir, the man sued film companies Les Films Alain Sarde and Studio Canal that produced the DVD. A lower court ruled in favor of the film companies, but the appeals court sided with the man, awarding him nominal damages of 250 euros (around $250) and giving the studios one month to unprotect all of its DVDs — an order that could cost the studios hundreds of thousands of dollars. In its decision, the court cited the fact that the man had intended the copy for his private use; however, the court made no provision for protection against commercial uses of copied material. The court also chastised the film companies for not providing a prominent “copyright protected” label on the DVD case. A representative of UFC-Que Choisir said the organization plans to use the court’s decision to pursue action against other DVD makers. Jean-Yves Mirski, delegate general of France’s Video Producer’s Association, called the decision worrisome and said it “directly contradicts the European Copyright Directive.” He added that his group may appeal the decision after a thorough review. This is not the first time French courts have rejected conventional wisdom regarding electronic media, freedoms and copyrights. In January, a French court ruled that Google could not sell trademark names as keywords. More recently, French security researcher Guillaume Tena was fined 5,000 euros for posting a warning about a software security hole he had discovered through reverse engineering.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Erika Lust Reflects on Vanguard Legacy and the Right to Pleasure

Erika Lust has spent two decades defying assumptions about what porn can be. The Barcelona-based filmmaker and studio head has built a global reputation on a simple premise: that sex onscreen should feel human, ethical and emotionally resonant.

Ofcom Investigates More Sites in Wake of AV Traffic Shifts

U.K. media regulator Ofcom has launched investigations into 20 more adult sites as part of its age assurance enforcement program under the Online Safety Act.

Tiffani Time Featured in Latest From Kink.com

Tiffani Time stars with Pierce Paris in an '80s-themed scene titled “Let’s Get Physical.”

Connie Perignon Fronts Latest From Brazzers

Connie Perignon stars with Will Pounder in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Angry Café Lay."

Avery Lust, Drake Von & Cherie DeVille Front Latest From TransAngels

Avery Lust, Drake Von, and multi-XMAs winner Cherie DeVille star in the latest release from TransAngels, titled “The Jizz Off.”

xHamster Settles Texas AV Lawsuit, Pays $120,000

Hammy Media, parent company of xHamster, has settled a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas over alleged noncompliance with the state’s age verification law, agreeing to pay a $120,000 penalty.

SCOTUS Won't Hear Appeal of NYC Adult Store Zoning Law

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of a lower court’s decision allowing enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

Eva Angelina, Angel Youngs & Rissa May Star in Latest From Deeper

Eva Angelina, Angel Youngs, and Rissa May star with Chocolate Rod in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint Deeper, titled “Strip Search.”

Phoenix Marie Leads Latest From MILFY

Phoenix Marie stars with director/performer Manuel Ferrara in a new airtight scene from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint MILFY.

Matthew Meier Talks Confidence, Chemistry and Acclaimed Craft

Matthew Meier is riding high. At the 2025 Euro XMAs, he not only took home a Best Sex Scene trophy for the second year in a row, but was also crowned Male Performer of the Year.

Show More