One reads a lot about France having the strictest piracy laws, and that actually somebody had to stand trial etc.

Does anyone around here know if they only focus on things sold in France, or would one get into trouble if one, hypothetically, downloaded some American or British show that's never broadcast or sold in France?

They are stepping up the game here, An agreement was signed a few years ago which meant that studios would fast track film releases here and in turn piracy would get removed slowly. To be fair there are lots of legal ways to download tv content and films as well as being able to stick a satellite dish on the roof and watch Freesat.

No, it's not focused solely on French products.
THIS gives more general info.

Considering it's all about preventing copying, and ensuring that an owners original material is protected, it's somewhat ironic that shortly after the HADOPI agency logo was presented to the public it was revealed that the 'new' logo used an unlicensed font. The original font was owned by France Télécom. The design agency that drew the logo admitted to using the font by mistake. The logo was re-issued using another font.
Not quite sure if they tried to sue themselves.......

There are many many ways to directly and safely download just about anything you care to name be that music, films, software, or whatever and by focusing purely on P2P they ensured that the scheme was fatally ineffective from day one.

HADOPI is a prime candidate for the austerity cuts the country desperately needs and it's future is already in question.

http://www.midilibre.fr/2013/05/13/c...opi,695793.php

The French produce next to nothing worth stealing anyway so it doesn't need protecting

I agree with your first 2 comments.
The third I believe was meant as a tongue-in-cheek comment and taken as such. However as a very keen cinema fan (and lover of good French wines), the truth is that there have been 3 recent French films that have been phenomenally successful, notably The Artist, The Untouchables and Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis. The latter grossed over 192M from French box-offices alone. That's big money. All three would without question have been prime targets for video pirates and the like.
And just a whispered mention to French Label Rouge or Appellation D'Origine Controlle (AOC) producers that the French produce nothing worth stealing would likely start another 100 years war.........
Talking of French AOC wines for example - to which I profess knowing a bit about, I have found one (that isn't a Bordeaux, or Burgundy) that I wouldn't swap for any red wine anywhere in the world. Imho a world beater! And I'm not ready to disclose the name here.

It was a bit tongue in cheek that said regardless of how good they were in the context of the industry as a whole and it's annual worldwide output they barely register.

By all means let the French protect what is theirs but truth is HADOPI was as much a product of Sarkos pathetic sycophancy to the media on the back of his mating with Carla Bruni as anything else.

PS: It's The INtouchbles

Ooh. Handbags.

Whoops! Thanks for pulling me up on that. Now how could I have confused Omar Sy with Robert Stack.....

TP you're off your game today. You missed a beautiful opportunity for pointing out the dangers inherent in wanton pedantry.