Swedish court: 'We cannot ban Pirate Bay'
 

In a landmark decision, a Swedish court on Friday ruled that the country's internet service providers cannot be forced to block controversial Swedish file-sharing site Pirate Bay.

After considering the case for almost a month, the District Court of Stockholm ruled that copyright holders could not make Swedish ISP Bredbandsbolaget block Pirate Bay.

The court found that Bredbandsbolaget's operations do not amount to participation in the copyright infringement offences carried out by some of its 'pirate' subscribers.

Pirate Bay is blocked by many European ISPs but anti-piracy outfits have always hoped that one day the notorious site would be restricted in Sweden.

The action was brought by Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, Nordisk Film and the Swedish Film Industry, who teamed up in a lawsuit last year designed to force Bredbandsbolaget to block the site.

They claimed that, unless it blocks Pirate Bay, Bredbandsbolaget should be held responsible for the copyright infringements of its customers.

Bredbandsbolaget refused to comply, stating that its only role is to provide customers with internet access and ensuring the free-flow of information.

In the ruling the court said that it considers that the actions of Bredbandsbolaget do not constitute participation in crimes in accordance with Swedish law.

?A unanimous District Court considers, therefore, that it is not in a position to authorize such a ban as the rights holders want and therefore rejects their request,? said presiding Chief Magistrate Anders Dereborg.

Daniel Westman, an IT researcher at Stockholm University told the Swedish news agency TT, ?It was a little unexpected, but it is not unlikely that a higher court may judge differently. Most countries where this thing has been tried the courts ruled in favour of blocking. The only EU country that has not done so has been the Netherlands.?

Continued Swedish court: 'We cannot ban Pirate Bay' - The Local

Yay! Now my Doobie Brothers Discography torrent can finish downloading!

I'm stuck on Toulouse Street. :D

If you want host pirated content do it at Sweden.

Exoclick profits from these crooks.

So are Visa, Master Card, PayPal and the rest of them..... I am amazed nobody noticed this " small" issue :error

... And by default eBay,Amazon and Youtube....

Is this a different outcome to Kim Dotcom ?