On Tuesday, February 20, the trial against a man accused of earning over DKK 4.5 million through manipulation of music streams will commence.
In 2018, the Rights Alliance reported a case on behalf of Koda, IFPI, Dansk Musiker Forbund and Dansk Artist Forbund that might become one of the largest cases of streaming fraud in the world. Six years later, the case is finally going to court in Aarhus. The first of three court sessions will take place on Tuesday, February 20, where a man from East Jutland faces charges of data fraud for generating artificial plays on streaming services, thereby obtaining over DKK 4.5 million in royalties that rightfully belonged to musicians with genuine plays. He is also charged with illegal copying and distribution, as some of the tracks were originally created, recorded, and produced by other artists.
Also read: Case of Streaming Fraud Finally Heading to Court
Long processing time can lead to reduced punishment
This case marks the first of its kind in Denmark and serves as an early example of how technology can facilitate multimillion-dollar data fraud at the expense of the music industry’s rights holders. The possibility of such extensive fraud with streaming music since 2013 underscores the significant challenge that streaming fraud may pose in the future, especially with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
The case has significant potential to establish a precedent, enhance police investigations in this field, and help prevent similar crimes in the future. However, if the defendant is found guilty, the length of time the case has taken to reach court might influence the sentencing, as previously mentioned by the Rights Alliance.
Maria Fredenslund, CEO of the Rights Alliance, has expressed concern over the delay:
“When cases like this take years to reach court, it undermines the opportunity to set significant precedents and keep pace with criminals exploiting the rapidly expanding digital marketplace. Consequently, the extensive resources spent on investigating and prosecuting these cases might lead to reduced sentences due to prolonged durations.“