Police in Sweden carried out a series of surprise attacks across country on 2 February 2010. According to some people they seem to be going the same way as IFPI. The police aimed at those individuals who are involved in sharing music tracks through Direct Connect. The declared but not proven operator of the hub is in custody and others are charged for violation of copyrighted material.
It clearly seems like Police have been forced by the music industry in Sweden with the help of IPRED legislation to attempt some legal actions over the individuals who are involved in illegal file-sharing.
According to Chief executive of IFPI Sweden, Lars Gustafsson, about 20 complaints have been lodged against illegal distribution of copyrighted material and from them, only five were found to be the big ones who have 9,000 and 17,000 music tracks each that makes them involved in such activity which lead the police to take legal actions against them.
Moreover, a 28 year-old man got an arrest warrant after the search and arrest mission of places like Gothenburg, Docksta, Handen and Upplands Väsby and he even agreed the crime attempted by him but refused the charges, according to prosecutor Frederick Ingblad.
And the other ones, who were charged for violation of copyrighted material, lost their equipments which were taken into custody for further investigation & two have accepted being involved according to the reports of Ingblad.
IFPI’s Lars Gustafsson told DN that “This business is still too large. There are so many new and good options there is really no reason anymore for people to steal music.”
Moreover, the leader of the Swedish Party, Rick Falkvinge said, “When the police go in and take people’s private computers because they have shared music, it’s completely wrong. Record companies are running with the same argument that publishers did when libraries came into being. They warned that no one would continue to write books if it was possible to borrow them for free.”
If we compare Sweden with other countries regarding sharing through Direct Connect, then its still said to be one of the most popular countries. IFPI is getting full on chances to raid whole lot of individuals who share almost their entire collection of music at one place and the same comes up as the advantage of IFPI which stretches the violation of copyrighted material and helps them to get solid evidences.
Police have been on a search and arrest mission and we will never know when it will be over. Lets see how many they take with them and how many they can bear. Fasten your seat belts, after IFPI, now Police is there to catch the illegal file-sharers.
[Via Emuworld]
