• Sweden edition

Spotify ties make Pirate Bay judge biased: court

Published: 29 Sep 09 13:55 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22362/20090929/

A Swedish court ruled on Tuesday that a lay judge set to hear the next phase of the Pirate Bay trial is unsuitable for the job because he works for the Spotify digital music service.

The Svea Court of Appeal ruled that the man’s employment as a product developer at Spotify and his ownership of stock options in the company constituted a conflict of interest for the appeal phase of the Pirate Bay trial.

The court also cited the fact that some of record companies that are party to the case are partial owners of Spotify as additional grounds for their ruling.

The court ruled further that the outcome of the Pirate Bay trial was of obvious interest to parties involved in Spotify’s line of business.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organization protecting the rights of the music industry and involved in the case against the Pirate Bay, believes the lay judge is bias, while the lay judge himself doesn’t think his employment at Spotify would affect his judgement.

Defence attorneys for the four men convicted in the first phase of the trial haven’t filed any complaints about possible bias on the part of the lay judge.

In April, a district court convicted Fredrik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundström each to one year in prison and a collective fine of 30 million kronor ($4.3 million).

Following the trial, the defence filed a bias complaint against judge Tomas Norström, claiming his membership in an organization with ties to copyright holders constituted a conflict of interest.

But the court of appeal acquitted Norström of any bias charges following an investigation into the matter.

In November, the ruling against the four men behind the Pirate Bay will be retried in a court of appeal.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

15:04 September 29, 2009 by eZee.se
Oh fantastic!

Tomas Norström was seen *not* to be biased even though he is on the board to bring "stronger copyright protections", as well as many other organizations that lobby for copyright, and now the IFPI have gotten their way in getting rid of the **only** judge who actually has some technical knowledge (being a graduate of the Technical college of Stockholm (KTH) - a college that to a large extent whose students take a fair outlook on filesharing) of modern p2p's inner workings.

Camera....... lights....action...... begin show trial.

Silence please.... kangaroo court in progress.
05:37 September 30, 2009 by bob3000
@eZee

Come on! You can't have it both ways.

If he had been deemed unbiased, you would have been claiming that it was rigged, because he is employed by Spotify - which you said was part of the Major Record company 'not-so secret' cabal in a previous posting.
09:22 September 30, 2009 by Thebinary1
These shenanigans can go on for as long as it makes the judges and lawyers feel important on such matters.

But here is one fundamental inaleniable truth:

- Technology spurs evolution whereas Laws impede evolution

- Evolution is the essence of our existance

In conclusion: Laws are irrelevant when pitted against technology.
04:10 October 1, 2009 by eZee.se
@bob3000,

You know thats not the truth, this judge was not 'in the bag' which is why the music industry lawyers appealed and NOT the defense.

This judge happens to be a technology freak and was responsible in programming some of the elements of the spotify application and thats why has shares in it.

Please dont even for a second think that i am lumping together everyone who works for Spotify as industry people, or even for a second that i think everyone who works in the industry are scumbags... just the majority, but there are a lot of good people WITHOUT actual ties to the industry other than just working there.

Have you noticed not one thing the defense has appealed has really gone through? but the industry appeals and... what happens?

Furthermore, i think anyone who has been following this closely sees it for the fiasco (spectrial?) that it is, the industry is so arrogant they are not even trying to keep it hush-hush as they consider themselves untouchable, after all they have reached the ears and pockets of the right people who can jump to their whims.
12:16 October 1, 2009 by RoyceD
I agree with Thebinary1, I am pretty certain all those horse shoe makers out there probably tried to think of ways of making that darned automobile contraption illegal when that started taking off too. Just like the music and film industry is today.

Yes that industry USED to be a huge profit maker, back when the only options were radio, tv, the pictures and newspapers. But unfortunately the advances in technology have brought on the age of the internet. And with that has come 40 inch tvs, high speed broad band and a higher level of education in the masses. Meaning more and more films, tv programs etc that can be delivered in a diferent business model than previous.

The current holders of power will keep trying to hang on to their power for some time to come, and don't be surprised when they try underhanded things, age old things, like having judges in their pockets. Expect it to happen. This is power we are talking about and people go to war over loosing power, it's that simple.

But slowly and surely the age of freedom of information is coming. And people of those genereations will look upon us with pity, for the burden of shame we will carry.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines

Malmö murders linked to fake online firms: report

Several of the recent killings in Malmö have been linked to financial fraud and fake companies trading online, according to sources close to the ongoing murder investigations. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Flying Finn Latvala claims Swedish rally title

Flying Finn Latvala claims Swedish rally title

Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala claimed the Rally of Sweden title near Hagfors in western Sweden on Sunday, the sixth win of his career. READ »

Teacher held after having sex with teen students

A 24-year-old teacher has been remanded into custody on suspicion of child rape after admitting that he had sexual relations with a number of teenage pupils. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Sweden approves medical 'marijuana'

Sweden approves medical 'marijuana'

Medicinal cannabis is now available as a prescription medicine in Sweden after the Medical Products agency approved a cannabis-based mouth spray for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. READ (13 COMMENTS) »

Man arrested after 'hugging thief' attack

A man has been arrested in Gävle in northern Sweden on suspicion of having stolen a 20-year-old's wallet while doling out an impromptu hug in an apparent copycat attack of a gang operating in Stockholm. READ (1 COMMENT) »

More snow set to blanket much of Sweden

More snow set to blanket much of Sweden

A new line of snow showers is expected to powder Sweden during Saturday, with the snowfall expected to continue all through the night into Sunday. An area of low pressure north of Sweden is the culprit behind the large area of snowfall. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Swedish firms choose male bosses: report

Swedish firms choose male bosses: report

Two-thirds of newly appointed bosses in 2011 were men, according to a survey of Sweden's eight largest management recruitment companies presented in Swedish media. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

Psychiatrist had sex with patient during therapy

A Stockholm-based psychiatrist had sex with one of his patients during a therapy session. The man has now been charged with sexually exploiting a person dependent of him. READ (15 COMMENTS) »

More Science & Technology

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Find a new job in Sweden now
12/02 Database Administrator (Oracle), Skanska IT Nordic
Kornboden Resurs AB
STHM
12/02 Head of Risk Management
SJR AB
Lund
11/02 Test Engineer
Clavister
Örnsköldsvik
11/02 Area Product Manager Denmark
Anton Paar Nordic AB
Köpenhamn/Odense
11/02 Press Secretary
Vattenfall
STHM
11/02 Executive Assistant
Vattenfall
STHM

ALL JOBS »



Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

Highlights
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Wikipedia (File)
SOCIETY »
Stealthy snake hid inside hotel trouser press
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: US embassy in Sweden
OPINION »
US ambassador to Sweden, Mark Brzezinski, speaks to The Local's David Landes about US-Swedish relations and taking Swedish lessons from his two-and-half year old.
sheeron/Flickr (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish cannibal finds vampire love behind bars
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

506 jobs available
202 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se