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Pirate Bay Founders Acquitted In Belgium

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-guilty-of-internetular-songslaughter dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A Belgian court has acquitted Pirate Bay co-founders Peter Sunde, Gottfrid Svartholm, Fredrik Neij, and Carl Lundström of criminal copyright infringement charges. They created the site in 2003, and were found guilty of similar charges in Sweden in 2009. The men have had continued legal problems since then, and one such case arose in Belgium for alleged copyright crimes committed between September, 2011 and November, 2013. However, since the founders have had nothing to do with the site since 2006, the prosecution couldn't make its case.

14 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Constant legal harassment and a barrage of law suits is enough to make their life miserable, so it's not necessary to actually judge them guilty. That's how the modern system works.

    1. Re:Doesn't matter by spiritplumber · · Score: 1

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... Countersue?

      --
      Liberty - Security - Laziness - Pick any two.
    2. Re:Doesn't matter by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      That's a common law link you posted. I think most of continental Europe is on civil law.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  2. Re:Can someone proof read? by Quok · · Score: 3, Informative

    You must be new here. This is Slashdot. Nobody proof reads summaries, or bothers to read the articles before launching into commenting, bickering, flaming, and trolling.

  3. What is the story here? by tomhath · · Score: 1

    They convinced the the judge that they didn't commit the crime. Why is this "New for Nerds"?

    1. Re:What is the story here? by RandomFactor · · Score: 1

      Not sure if you're making fun of the repetition in the summary (since fixed) or if that was a mistake.

      --
      --- Mercutio was right.
    2. Re:What is the story here? by neo-mkrey · · Score: 1

      Would you prefer "Old for Nerds" instead?

    3. Re:What is the story here? by Quasimodem · · Score: 1

      News for Olds Nerds.

  4. CopyCrime by devloop · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So what should be a simple CIVIL case of COPYRIGHT *INFRINGEMENT* is a criminal case?
    Should We also have Two Minute Piracyhate be mandatory at schools to indoctrinate future generations and prevent these hideous copycrimes?

  5. yay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    power to the pirates

    !

  6. Re:What a pity by Quasimodem · · Score: 1

    That's the Great Lord MPAA and His Consort RIAA, sovereign of the whole planet's cultural history, and due unreasonable royalty to everything from everywhen, in perpetuity.

  7. Ne bis in idem? by CanEHdian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What's going on here? First you try them in Sweden, then you try them in Belgium, next in France? Just when you think the powers behind the MPAA/RIAA couldn't sink any lower...

    --
    When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
    1. Re:Ne bis in idem? by Megol · · Score: 2

      That's the standard procedure if someone is suspected of crimes in Sweden, Belgium, France.

  8. Re:Can someone proof read? by KGIII · · Score: 1

    I am actually under the impression that the "links" are just mouse-over effects and do not actually go anywhere in 80% of the articles. I check maybe 0.01% to look for images but I refuse to be a heretic and I never read the article. In fact, suggesting that I read it is an affront to my sensibilities and my culture. Do not oppress me!

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."