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First Swede Prosecuted For File Sharing

Posted by Zonk on from the hope-he-has-a-gameboy dept.

praps writes "The Local reports that a 27-year old man who allowed people to download a film from his PC has become the first Swede to be charged with illegal file sharing, after a tip-off from the country's notorious Anti-Piracy Bureau. It's a critical test case, as prosecutors say that anything less than a prison sentence would make future prosecutions unlikely." From the article: "The case was brought after a tip off from Antipiratbyrån (APB), a lobby organization set up by the media industry to combat illegal downloading in Sweden. Since the man was reported APB has found itself in hot water, with an Internet company accusing the organization itself of illegally downloading films and games.

6 of 432 comments (clear)

  1. Prison? by ram4 · · Score: 5, Informative

    A prison sentence for copyright infrigement? Are we loosing the sense of proportion here?

    What about murderers? Oh right, they also get prison sentences.

    1. Re:Prison? by MathFox · · Score: 4, Informative
      This is the classic Robin Hood defense, and under American law, essentially worthless in court.
      As far as I know, Sweden is a member state of the EU and US law doesn't apply there. In European Law (at least the Dutch law that I find easier to read that the Swedish) they make a difference between "infringement as business" and "infringement as private activity". It can make a factor 10 difference in punishment!
      --
      extern warranty;
      main()
      {
      (void)warranty;
      }
  2. Pirate Bay by kiveol · · Score: 5, Informative
    The person in charge of Pirate Bay (a major BitTorrent site) has been flaunting the fact that laws in the US/EU don't have any effect in Sweden. http://static.thepiratebay.org/legal/

    This could be the end of the low ratio of torrents deleted vs. the law suits...

  3. This APB is in a big mess. by a_n_d_e_r_s · · Score: 4, Informative

    "accusing the organization itself of illegally downloading films and games."

    Downloading ? No its uploading they are accused of. One informant they hired was the main one responsible for uploading films, music and computer programs to a computer at a ISP who they later got the police to raid and take for evidence.

    The thing is a whole mess with basically everyone involved having been accused of misconduct or unlawful activities - ISP, police and the APB.

    --
    Just saying it like it are.
  4. Re:Less than prison is ineffective?? by Dice+Fivefold · · Score: 5, Informative

    The reason the prosecutors want a prison sentence is this:
    According to Swedish secrecy law, the ISPs can only be ordered to reveal the identities behind IP numbers if the crime is worth a prison sentence. This case will serve as a precedent. If this guy is spared from prison (very likely), ISPs will no longer reveal file sharers identity.

  5. Re:Entrapment? by CyberDruid · · Score: 4, Informative

    It is forbidden. The police are not allowed to entice a suspect to commit crime in any way.

    --

    Opinions stated are mine and do not reflect those of the Illuminati