Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music's IFPI (International Federation of Phornographic Industry) was enraged to learn the entertainment industry Three Strikes law imposed in France has had about as much effect as a damp squib. Despite cartel hopes that it would result in a definite drop in file sharing, there's been an increase.

Researchers at Rennes University, investigating France's new HADOPI anti-file sharing, anti-consumer law, found "pirates have turned to streaming services and download sites use of which is not covered by the legislation", said the BBC, adding: "The Hadopi law, named after the agency set up to police net connections, only covers piracy committed by file-sharing systems."

Now to rub salt into the wound, "A year after the adoption of Sweden's IPRED anti-piracy legislation, new figures show that file sharing is growing in popularity, internet traffic has rebounded strongly, and only a small handful of cases have been brought before the courts", says The Local, going on: "The introduction of the law, aimed at tackling file sharing by allowing access to subscriber information, coincided with the high profile convictions of the four backers of the Pirate Bay in April 2009."

But, "According to a Sifo survey published by broadcaster Viasat, the number of illegal file sharers is increasing." In March 2009 26% of Swedes confirmed they were file sharers, by September 2009 the stat had dropped to 11%, but according to the new poll the figure had climbed back up to 16%, says the story.

And interestingly, as in France, "streaming has also become more popular with a recent report from internet company Cisco confirming the rise of the technology as it eliminates the need for users to download copyrighted files and run the risk of prosecution", it says.

"The IPRED law has not got the breakthrough that people thought, regardless of which side of the debate you sit. As not much has happened then it is difficult to assess whether the law has been effective, or whether it has been a threat to personal integrity," The Local has Marcin de Kaminski, a founder of the Bureau of Piracy and researcher at Lund University, telling the Svenska Dagbladet daily.

The new file sharing law is based on the European Union's Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED) and allows courts to order internet operators to hand over details that identify suspected illegal file sharers, adds the story.

What makes this particularly telling is that Hollywood and Big Music all but call the shots in Sweden.

Expect a new IFPI report decrying the news.