French legalise file-sharing

Fascinating Joi Ito reports the French National Assembly has legalised non-commercial file sharing, in exchange for an annual fee which would go to copyright holders. Sort of like the old TV licence fee.

It may yet be over-turned. Not sure if I quite support a general annual fee, but I certainly want to see a system where one can pay and download legal TV shows, music and movies. Until people have the legal alternative, illegal file-sharing will flourish.