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ThePirateBay files charges against media companies
Author: Phil CogarPublished: 24th September 2007
ThePirateBay has filed charges against ten media companies that operate in Sweden based on information from the MediaDefender leak.
ThePirateBay has filed charges against Twentieth Century Fox, Sweden AB, Emi Music Sweden AB, Universal Music Group Sweden AB, Universal Pictures Nordic AB, Paramount Home Entertainment (Sweden) AB, Atari Nordic AB, Activision Nordic Filial Till Activision (UK) Ltd, Ubisoft Sweden AB, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Sweden) AB, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic AB for infrastructural sabotage, denial of service attacks, and hacking and spamming.
Some might say that these companies are on the end of a bit of revenge in the wake of TPB having its servers seized by Swedish police last summer. Sources pointed to pressure from inside the US for the primary reasons for the seizure.
Whether these charges will stick still remains the question of the hour. If database logs alone had proved that the companies had done what they are accused of then it would, in no doubt, be a closed case. As it stands though, the evidence in question was obtained illegally so everything could just fall flat. If the charges do stick then TPB will probably move forward and take this case to court.
Even if none of this pans out in the legal system, it does help serve an alternative purpose which could better all consumers: to help pave the way to cheaper, alternative methods for distributing media. The media attention this is getting could help usher in a new wave of digital distribution. The end result could be the big media companies joining ranks with torrent companies instead of fighting them tooth and nail. TPB even offered up that solution earlier this year when OscarTorrents was launched.
Does ThePirateBay have a legal leg to stand on in Sweden? Will all of this media attention bring some sense into the way the big media companies think? Leave your thoughts over in the forum.
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Comments (14)
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i hope they go down big and realise a change is needed in the way they do buisness towards what the consumer wants. As a wise man once said "the customer is always right"
it is m opinion that they are both in the wrong but will the ruling be in favour of the blatent law breakers (TPB) or the people who broke the law to catch them. i hope they both fall flat on their face as i feel this is the only way things can truely progress
/me gets the popcorn
If the evidence does indeed prove 100% culpability, who cares how it was obtained? Ok, maybe the party being accussed but they're guilty so what does it matter?
If the email trail shows conclusive proof of MD's guilt and full evidence of the charges against them, why shouldn't it be included?
If it is admissible, then MD et al has problems. This will just be the first of many lawsuits, and you know the EFF will be looking at its options too.
If linking to illegal material is against the law, all the search engines (google anyone?) would be in big trouble
I get what you're saying and the point you're making but its for keeping police from raiding without a warrent and arresting first and asking questions later.
Or its supposed to. But certain people keep doing things without cause or warrants and holding people without charges so it kind of undermines my point.
EDIT:
@cyrilthefish--
But isn't the key term "knowingly linking to illegal material". Google is a botted search engine. It just finds stuff. Google has filters for at least the pornographic stuff, but its still just bot-run. But torrents are (i thought) knowingly linked to by the users. Someone more informed then me-- clue me in.
bam. everybody should just read this and shush! :p