A 37-year-old man from Jylland receives a 60-day suspended prison sentence and an additional fine of DKK 10,000 for illegal sharing on several file-sharing services.
As a result of NSK’s persistent efforts against the Danish file-sharing environment, several backers, uploaders, and users of the now closed services are facing trial these years. One of these cases was finalised today when an inveterate user was sentenced to 60 days suspended prison sentence and an additional fine of DKK 10,000 for copyright infringement at the Court of Randers. Prior to the hearing, the now convicted had also agreed to pay DKK 10,000 in compensation to the affected rights holders. The case was reported to NSK in 2021 by RettighedsAlliancen.
The verdict contributes to setting an example to users of file-sharing services and has similarities with a case from 2021, where a 35-year-old man was sentenced to 60 days’ suspended prison sentence and compensation for illegal file sharing on the service DanishBits.
Maria Fredenslund, CEO of Rights Alliance, says:
“With today’s ruling, a bigger picture emerges that the courts are taking a strict view of the users of file sharing services. High penalties have a preventive effect on illegal file sharing, and therefore we are pleased that the case can contribute positively to protecting content in the future.”
In a press release from NSK, special prosecutor Jan Østergaard says:
“I am pleased with the sentence, which is based on solid investigative work. The verdict sends a clear signal to all file sharers that illegally sharing of films, music and other copyright protected material can have serious consequences.”
Read NSK’s press release here (Danish)
Well-known serial infringer in the file-sharing community
The conviction comes after the 37-year-old man, during a period from December 2020 to March 2023, copied, shared and downloaded copyrighted works, including films, series, talk shows, sports recordings, stand-up comedy, music, etc. on several Danish and Nordic file-sharing services.
The convicted person was a serial infringer in the file-sharing environment, where he made a name for himself by using a consistent profile name on various file-sharing services. He was one of the incarnate users who continued his activities on the new services that emerged after the shutdown of the Danish pirate scene at the end of 2020. On the SuperBits and NorTor services, he shared a large number of works, while on the DanishBytes file sharing service, he both downloaded and shared works in huge numbers.
In recent years, several backers and inveterate users in the file-sharing community have been convicted of copyright infringement, including six out of seven ringleaders of the file-sharing service Asgaard. In two weeks, another key figure in the file-sharing community will be facing trial on 28 September, when a backer of the file-sharing service ShareUniversity goes on trial.
Read more: Users of illegal services are now being held accountable