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Pirate Bay Trial Ends In Jail Sentences

myvirtualid writes "The Globe and Mail reports that the Pirate Bay defendants were each sentenced Friday to one year in jail. According to the article, 'Judge Tomas Norstrom told reporters that the court took into account that the site was "commercially driven" when it made the ruling. The defendants have denied any commercial motives behind the site.' The defendants said before the verdict that they would appeal if they were found guilty. 'Stay calm — Nothing will happen to TPB, us personally or file sharing whatsoever. This is just a theater for the media,' Mr. Sunde said Friday in a posting on social networking site Twitter." Update: 04/17 12:16 GMT by T : Several updates, below. Thanks to all the readers who have sent in various other links related to this news, including the dozens who noted the BBC's version of the story. Reader a_n_d_e_r_s submits a link to the verdict itself (large PDF, in Swedish), and writes "The sentencing is not unexpected (max verdict is 2 years in prison) and the damages is about 1/3 of what the companies that has requested damages had requested. Notice that no punitive damages is applicable." Reader yendor writes, "More details are coming and The Pirate Bay will be holding a press conference at 15.00 CET.

HakanRoswallGoatse points out that besides the jail term imposed (and barring the results of planned appeals), "the four men will have to pay $3,6 million in compensation for lost sales to 17 media companies. Among them are: Warner Bros. Entertainment, MGM Pictures, Columbia Pictures Industries, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Sony BMG, Universal, EMI, Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, and Activision."

20 of 1,870 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Usenet by badfish99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The first rule of Usenet is: you do not talk about Usenet.

  2. Google by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn! Now all TPB users will have to use Google to find their torrents.

    And then Google will fall too and...

  3. Snrk... by 800DeadCCs · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8003799.stm

    Laughed hard at this:
    "Speaking to the BBC, the chairman of industry body the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) John Kennedy said the verdict sent out a clear message.
    "These guys weren't making a principled stand, they were out to line their own pockets."

    Oh yeah, and he isn't?

  4. Let's be honest - they aren't innocent neither... by Pecisk · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...but we support them mostly just because we don't like fucked-up law and industry around it. We can't fight the industry (every year income in bilions), so we play pirates game. Sooner or later, 'pirates' gets cought. But powerless feeling remains. So, where we going from here? When people will stop screwing with law and instead fight lobbies and industries? When people will stop being politically ignorant? When they will understand that more they want to avoid to be connected with all it, the more they feel powerless and it kills them slowly.

    --
    user@ubuntubox:~$ stfu This server is going down for shutdown NOW!
  5. Re: Usenet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    WTF does that have to do with malware-infected torrents?

  6. Re:Google does the SAME thing, but no one cares. by Luxifer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Search in google "filetype:torrent Wolverine" and see what it gets you.

    why would I do that? I already got it weeks ago off the Pirate Bay.

  7. Re:The questions that come to mind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    2. Can't we all help do their jail time, by not downloading any torrents for an hour?

  8. Re:The questions that come to mind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    File-sharing is legal in my country. Looking at porn isn't.

    I hope the founders of Google are put in jail, it is a subversive porn-finding site after all.

  9. I want to thank the MPAA... by blind+biker · · Score: 3, Funny

    for putting these men into jail. I'll start by not buying that Wall-E special edition DVD I was eyeing for some time. Also, the Bolt DVD will get a pass.

    And I think my GF and I will spend more afternoons at various restaurants rather than at the cinema.

    Thanks MPAA for providing me the motivation..... to poop on you.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    1. Re:I want to thank the MPAA... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2, Funny

      And I think my GF and I

      You had us 'til this.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  10. Re:What the fucking fuck? by Thanshin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Jesus. I made a joke on here a few days ago using a line from an Alanis Morrisette song. I'll probably be next up for a stint in the big house.

    AHA! Gotcha!

    I knew the fake veredict would get you out of your hiding.

    Guys, you can release the swedes now, we got the Alanis Morrissette impersonator.

  11. Re:Let me be the first one to say it ... by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Funny

    >>>filetype:torrent

    Thanks I just learned something new. Now let's see... filetype:nudist...nope. filetype:sexting...nope. filetype:mirror_photo..... .....

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  12. Re:Judge Norström can suck my dick by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey. Let's flood the judge with links to google and other search engines, that link to torrents.
    And an occasional goatse / shitting dick-nipple / tubgirl / lemonparty / meatspin montage. ;)

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  13. Re:The questions that come to mind by ciderVisor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Swedish jails are more like holiday camps anyway.

    I'm a free man and I haven't had a conjugal visit in six months.

    --
    Squirrel!
  14. Re:sigh by jabithew · · Score: 2, Funny

    Somalians are just exercising their freedom too.

    --
    All intents and purposes. Not intensive purposes.
  15. Re:What the fucking fuck? by digitalderbs · · Score: 2, Funny

    [That would be] ironic... don't you think? (in the Alanis sense)

  16. Re:Let me be the first one to say it ... by torchdragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Evil will always win because Good is dumb." -Dark Helmet

    --
    "Don't feel bad for me child; I'm the monster that hides under your bed."
  17. Re:Let me be the first one to say it ... by Panaflex · · Score: 2, Funny

    We're paid shills... we're paid in peanuts, jelly donuts, and mexican jumping beans. On a side note... would you like to win fabulous prizes every hour? Your free iPod has just arrived!

    Well Damn... at the very least can we have your zip code?

    --
    I said no... but I missed and it came out yes.
  18. Re:Let me be the first one to say it ... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 2, Funny

    You might just be the first person I read on /. that doesn't try to delude or justify his actions.

    Hey! I was taking responsibility for my actions before it was uncool!

    --
    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
  19. In other words. . . by MistaE · · Score: 2, Funny

    You just want shit for free :D