[pp.int.general] [opennetcoalition] The Pirate Bay Decision, or the Political Persecution of Sharing

[lilo]

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La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/the-pirate-bay-decision-or-the-political-persecution-of-sharing


The Pirate Bay Decision, or the Political Persecution of Sharing



*** The Internet, November 27th 2010 - The decision to sentence the
co-founders of The Pirate Bay to jail is both absurd and unfair. It
illustrates how an obsolete copyright law and its indiscrimate
application are harmful to society as a whole. Such an incomprehension
of technological, economic and social realities should not mask the fact
that this decision is above all political. ***

Citizens who care about the Internet and digital technologies are
startled by the decision of the Appeal court of Svea to confirm
(reduced) jail sentences of F. Neij, P. Sunde and C. Lundström, founders
of the Pirate Bay. The court has also upheld huge fines and increased
damages to the music firms that sued them.

  * On a technical and legal point of view, the decision is unfair
because The Pirate Bay is nothing but an index, which links to resources
that already exist online. This decision amounts to condemning a library
catalog instead of the author of some infringing content or activity.

  * On a philosophical point of view, this decision is unfair because it
tends to condemn the act of sharing. Sharing is good and legitimate.
Culture only exists because it is shared. The problem is that today's
copyright laws and their implementation are obsolete. They are
fundamentally at odds with the new uses that create and disseminate
today's and tomorrow's culture.

  * On a political point of view, the decision is revolting. It is a
statement to convince people that sharing is bad for creators, when it
has a proven positive effect on cultural diversity, revenues from
concerts and other activities and no proven negative effect on sales of
music or other media [1]. This decision will become the emblem of the
imperious necessity to adapt copyright to reality instead of trying to
change reality so it fits copyright interests. [2]

"The Pirate Bay founders can probably challenge this decision, and take
this case to a higher court, and we hope that justice will be
restablished soon. We are convinced that in a few years time, this
decision will appear to everyone as reminiscent of a decaying system,
keen on scoring a few last hits before the advent of an inevitable
change." conclude together Jérémie Zimmermann and Philippe Aigrain,
co-founders of La Quadrature du Net.

Courage, Peter, Fredrik, and Carl!


* Références *

1. See http://lqdn.fr/wiki/Documents

2. Commissioner Kroes recently declared at the Forum of Cultures: "In
some sectors, the levels of piracy demand that we ask ourselves what are
we doing wrong. We must ensure that copyright serves as a building
block, not a stumbling block."



** About la Quadrature du Net **


La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates
for the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the
founding principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation
of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific
and pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to
encourage citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and
freedoms in the digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international
NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society
Institute and Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net



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