Volume V

Issue : 13: June 28, 2007

• Dutch Police Make Arrests for Suspected Internet Fraud
• eBay Facing Injunction Over "Buy it Now"
• Court Upholds Injunction Against Warrantless Email Seizures
• 2006 Commissioners Report on PIPEDA Finds Increase in Complaints
• U.S. Online Gaming Ban Leads to $3.4 Billion Compensation Claim by Antigua
• Suit Targets Anonymous Discussion Board Postings
• Swedish Appeals Court Finds Music File sharing Illegal
• FBI Internal Audit Finds Extensive Breach of Intelligence Gathering Rules
• U.S. Court of Appeals Rules that Criminalizing Bootlegging is Constitutional

Home > Volume V > Issue 13: June 28, 2007 > Swedish Appeals Court Finds Music File sharing Illegal

Swedish Appeals Court Finds Music File sharing Illegal

The Swedish Appeals Court upheld a lower court ruling that it is illegal to share music files over the Internet without payment. It is the first conviction under Sweden’s anti-piracy laws passed in 2005.

Jimmy Sjostrom of Sweden was fined the equivalent of US$2,843 for sharing four songs over the Internet without payment to the right holders.

The music and film industry in the US and Sweden have been lobbying hard to have illegal file sharing prosecuted while at the same time promoting legal file sharing sites where users pay for the music and movie files.

Groups opposed to the legislation have cited the case as proof that it is still very difficult to police file sharing. They are of the opinion the case establishes that the sentence for illegal file sharing is a fine and not jail time and that the authorities only have the right to access an individual’s files and records for offences that carry jail time. If this approach is followed, it will be very difficult for the authorities to establish the evidentiary base to prosecute illegal file sharers.

For additional information, visit:

http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-6190430.html