This week marks the beginning of what will most likely be the most important file sharing trial to date. The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s largest torrent sharing websites, from which not only music but full length movies can be downloaded, is being sued in Swedish court by Warner Bros., MGM, EMI, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Sony/BMG, and Universal.
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This week marks the beginning of what will most likely be the most important file sharing trial to date. The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s largest torrent sharing websites, from which not only music but full length movies can be downloaded, is being sued in Swedish court by Warner Bros., MGM, EMI, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Sony/BMG, and Universal.
Court proceedings began Monday morning. The site’s founders, Gottfried Svartholm Warg, Peter Sunde Kolmisoppl, and Fredrik Neij, all pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution is claiming that The Pirate Bay is an elaborate criminal organization, complete with financial backers and share holders as well as financial officers. Much attention in the trial thus far has been focused on The Pirate Bay’s selling of advertisement on its site.
After lunch, an ironic and highly unpleasant hiccup occurred for the prosecution. Hakan Roswall, head prosecutor and self-proclaimed “expert on computer crimes,” was unable to start his computer, and ultimately was forced to continue his case without any technological aides. Roswall so far is focusing on the volume of traffic the site experienced before it was raided in 2006.
During the afternoon proceedings, Peter Sunde sent out a message to his supporters, via the internet, gloating over what he claimed to be an “epic fail” on the prosecution’s part.
The case is scheduled to continue into next week.
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