Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, and Carl Lundström were convicted today in the Stockholm Court of Appeals for their part in operating The Pirate Bay, which is a search engine for torrent files and one of Sweden’s most recognized brands.

– This was a political trial from the start and it must be resolved politically, says Rick Falkvinge, leader of the Pirate Party. The public has lost all confidence in the justice system in these matters, and it is beyond sad that the courts still persist in running special-interest justice.

The damages from the lower court were substantially raised in the appeals court to about SEK 46,000,000. The prison sentences were shortened somewhat, to ten months of jail time for Neij, eight for Sunde and four for Lundström.

– This can be compared to the damages for a rape conviction, which is SEK 75,000, says Falkvinge. The copyright laws have strayed so far from the public’s perception of justice that copyright cannot survive without drastic reform. In such a reform, there is no place for today’s copyright industry.

The Pirate Party was formed due to the inability of today’s politicians to adapt the legislation to today’s information society:

– When push comes to shove, the politicians are to blame, says Falkvinge. They have failed in their duty to adapt the legislation to next generation’s society and work, and it’s us citizens who pay the price when special interests get to rule. We simply must replace today’s politicians.

For more information:

Rick Falkvinge, Party Leader of the Pirate Party, +46 10 3333 401
Anna Troberg, Deputy Party Leader of the Pirate Party, +46 10 3333 402
Christian Engström, Member of the European Parliament for the Pirate Party, +46 70 66 33 780

The Pirate Party Press Center has photos, logos and footage: http://press.piratpartiet.se/