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It is true the UK enjoys a love/hate relationship with Europe but at this precise moment in time we're buying it chocolates and puppies.

The reason for our adulation is the European Government late yesterday finally brought some much needed sanity to the ISP arena after rejecting proposals to criminalise file sharing and ban convicted users from the Internet. That said, the vote was close with the plans rejected 314 to 297. The naysayers were no doubt heavily boosted by the French who have been long in favour of it.

"The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures like cutting off Internet access shouldn't be used," said European Parliament spokeswoman Malene Folke Chaucheprat.

Should you be in any doubt why banning illegal P2P users was a horrendously bad idea read here, but safe to say in all of this the most interesting aspect is how both the BPI and Virgin Media - who together agreed on a crackdown - will now proceed.

As for TalkTalk - which bravely stuck its head above the parapet to defend users' interests - expect a joyful statement soon. It's theme somewhere along the lines of nah-nah-na-na-nah followed by a long, deep and extremely satisfying raspberry.

Link:
European Parliament

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