Pirate Bay founders' appeal rejected

Three founders of file-sharing site The Pirate Bay have been unsuccessful in their attempt to overturn prison sentences for copyright infringement.

Their appeal stems back to a court ruling over a year ago, when Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundstrom were found guilty of assisting users of the still-active Pirate Bay to break Sweden's copyright law and each sentenced to one-year prison sentences.

Whilst the appeals court did not overturn the guilty verdict, the co-founders prison sentences were cut. Neij will serve 10 months, Sunde eight and Lundstrom four.

Fines included in their initial penalty, however, have doubled, going up from a collective US$2 million to US$6.5 million.

A fourth founder who was also convicted last year, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, did not appear in court, citing illness. He will have his case heard at a future date.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which helped bring the initial case on behalf of a number of the rights owners, called for the Pirate Bay to now be closed down.

"Today's judgment confirms the illegality of the Pirate Bay and the seriousness of the crimes of those involved,” said IFPI’s chief executive (CEO) Frances Moore.

“It is now time for the Pirate Bay, whose operators have twice been convicted in court, to close. We now look to governments and ISPs to take note of this judgment, do the responsible thing and take the necessary steps to get The Pirate Bay shut down."

The Pirate Party UK, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the knock-on effects of the court's decision.

"I am deeply concerned that this will encourage ever more draconian legislation in the UK aimed at restricting people's access to the internet," Loz Kaye, leader of the Pirate Party UK, told IT PRO.

"The internet community feels under siege and frustrations are building."

There were indications earlier in the year that rather than damaging the Pirate Bay, the court proceedings had actually boosted the popularity of the group.

"Despite the high-profile nature of the case, file-sharing continues to rise in Sweden, and worldwide," Kaye claimed.

"Just as home taping did not kill music, neither will downloading."

This article originally appeared at itpro.co.uk