In a landmark ruling which will have repercussions world wide and especially in other EU countries, the individuals behind The Pirate Bay website have been found guilty of breaking copyright law and sentenced to a year in jail and fined 30 million Swedish Krona (about €3.6 million).
The latest development is seen as vindication for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries and the Motion Picture Association of America in their continued battle against online piracy.
It also mirrors the hardening of attitudes in countries like Ireland where IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) reached a landmark settlement in relation to Peer 2 Peer activity with Ireland's largest ISP Eircom.
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While further reaction will emerge over the coming days the fall of Pirate Bay was seen as another key moment in the battle for the hearts & minds of the greater public in relation to the rights of artists to be paid for their work. One industry insider commented
"It's a huge result, I think it's fair to see it as a total sea change in attitudes about the responsibilities that 'facilitators' have in these areas and it may well be very persuasive in getting the other telecos and ISPs to come to the kind of settlement that Eircom reached with IRMA. "
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