France’s Haute Autorité pour la diffusion des œuvres et la protection des droits sur Internet (HADOPI)

HADOPI, or the High Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet, is a French government agency established in 2009. Its main role is to protect intellectual property rights online, particularly regarding music and film. It monitors internet users for illegal file-sharing activities and sends warnings to those who infringe copyright laws. After multiple warnings, the agency can impose penalties, such as fines or internet access restrictions. HADOPI aims to encourage legal content consumption and support creators in the digital age while balancing ownership rights and internet freedoms.