..not entirely true Fraser...
The picture postcard view of French towns dosn't include supermarkets and so on, but if you look, so shall ye find. They are there, just not in the old town centres. points in case...
http://www.eriding.net/media/photos/geography/france/051216_cbrown_mp_geo_france_551.jpg
http://p.vtourist.com/1446203-AUCHAN_FRENCH_SUPERMARKET-France.jpg
http://www.day-tripper.net/xzi/xphotoshop4boulevards3.jpg ...being a particular example showing Claire's Accessories in the middle distance of the mall, amongst all the other big chain stores.
However, it might be noted that we are not talking about shops here but international e-business.
The French people tend to get their way though (as history has shown),...and so if they disagree with this law, they'll get around it one way or another.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
