Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2005/10/12/sweden_file_sharer/
Sweden takes file sharer to court
First charged with file sharing
Posted in Legal, 12th October 2005 10:47 GMT
A Swedish man made history yesterday as the first Swede charged with file sharing.
He is accused of having a copy of the movie Hip Hip Hora (The Ketchup Effect) which he allowed others to download. Swedish anti-piracy group Antipiratbyra(APB) tipped off the police. They contacted his ISP and used his IP number to track him down.
But there was confusion yesterday when the defendant withdrew an apparent confession that he did download, and then redistribute, the film. Police say he told them he had made the film available using the DC file sharing program. But in court yesterday the 28-year old man denied ever having the film.
Sweden's new copyright laws came into effect 1 July which is adding to the complexity of the case. The trial is seen as a test case for several others around Sweden.
The defendant's lawyer spent some time showing that an IP number alone is not enough to positively identify the man. He also accused the APB of being provocateurs and informers.
The case has been front page news in Sweden where some 800,000 people file share.
A verdict is expected 25 October.
Thanks to reader Fredrik Gunnarson for the tip-off.
More details from The Local here and here.
*Register reader Martin Bjelk emailed us to say: "The guy is being charged under the old law, as his alleged crime took place in november last year, and the EU directive-inspired new law came into effect 1 July this year."®