The Pirate Bay trial judge accused of bias
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Sweden, already disgraced not only in the eyes of its citizens, but of the world, by nakedly toadying to the corporate entertainment industry, now has another reason for shame.
When the decision came down that a Swedish court had ruled against Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi, Frederik Neij and Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, the people who run a .torrent search site called The Pirate Bay, and their supporter, “The corporate press corps doesn’t even blush at reporting a court case brought by the movie and music industries against four (4) people, whose combined incomes wouldn’t keep the cartels in coffee and donuts, as a triumph,” said p2pnet.
But we didn’t realise how right we were.
In what has to be the biggest scandal yet, “far from being impartial, the judge in the case is a member of pro-copyright groups,” writes emigmax in TorrentFreak.
“The copyright industry likes to have the outcome of processes clear before engaging them so it’s perhaps unsurprising that SR today revealed that the judge Tomas Norström (right) is in league with it on many fronts. The judge has several engagements – together with the prosecution lawyers for the movie and music industries,” he says, going on to list organisations in which the entertainment cartel judge has interests in »»»
Swedish Association of Copyright (SFU) РThe judge Tomas Norstr̦m is a member of this discussion forum that holds seminars, debates and releases the Nordic Intellectual Property Law Review. Other members of this outfit? Henrik Pont̩n (Swedish Anti-Piracy Bureau), Monique Wadsted (movie industry lawyer) and Peter Danowsky (IFPI) Рthe latter is also a member of the board of the association.
Swedish Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (SFIR) РThe judge Tomas Norstr̦m sits on the board of this association that works for stronger copyright laws. Last year they held the Nordic Championships in Intellectual Property Rights Process Strategies.
.SE (The Internet Infrastructure Foundation) – Tomas Norström works for the foundation that oversees the .se name domain and advises on domain name disputes. His colleague at the foundation? Monique Wadsted. Wadsted says she’s never met Norström although they have worked together. [NOTE: Wadsted is a lawyer who acted for the movie industry - Jon.]
The story has Norström stating, “Every time I accept a case I make an assessment on whether I am part of it or not. But I have not felt that I am biased because of those commitments.”
Peter Sunde’s lawyer, Peter Althin, says he’s already put in a request for a re-trial, says the story, quoting him as declaring, “In my appeal, I will claim the court was biased and that the appeal court should cancel the verdict and re-submit the case to the district court.”
Adds TorrentFreak »»»
Previously one of the original lay judges in the case had to step down when his involvement in a music rights group became known;
Three lay judges were appointed, said Judge Norström one week before the trial. On a question from me to the lay judges on whether they had any involvement in copyright associations or similar, or if they are or have been artists one of them answered Yes.
That lay judge was removed. It’s anyone’s guess why the judge didn’t think the same should apply to him.
Whether or not Tomas Norström allowed his personal interests to get in the way of a fair verdict is open for debate, but there can’t be an intelligent human being reading this news that doesn’t feel that it would’ve been better for everyone if he simply backed away from this case and let someone else take over. He has compromised the entire case and verdict.
Rick Falkvinge of Sweden’s Pirate Party said the revelations were indicative of corruption on a completely unforgivable level.
Definitely stay tuned.
p2pnet – The Pirate Bay decision leak `a bit LOL`, April 18, 2009
TorrentFreak – Pirate Bay Judge Accused of Bias, Calls for a Retrial, April 23, 2009
acted for the movie industry – The Pirate Bay vs Them: Day Seven, February 20 4, 2009
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It`s really easy! Subscribe to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile – http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
Net access blocked by government restrictions? Use Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Go here for details.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Well they stated it themselves:
“but there canât be an intelligent human being reading this news that doesnât feel that it wouldâve been better for everyone if he simply backed away from this case and let someone else take over. ”
When an American cartel who has members/former member in the highest level of gov that influence world politics, the statement, “there is no “intelligent human being reading this news”, doesn’t apply. Its the will of the US cartels. End of story.
Control and Domination. How do you fight government when its polluted with the cartel?
How does justice and intelligence fit in when the gov i polluted with a cartel?
This is all to similar to the drug cartels of yester-year.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
I hope that is not their only reason for appeal, or it could get slammed by another judge who feels all judges are beyond corruption.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
row row fight the powah
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Let’s shoot all of this racaille of corrupted lawers and corporate parasites.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
These corporates parasites knew that with a fair trial they had no chance to get a conviction against the Pirate-Bay! So they have to do this.
They are going to continue working very very hard, using million and million of dollars to corrupt the second trial and the third trial if any until they get the verdict they want.
Justice is no more. Guns are shipper than lawers. No justice no peace.
It is urgent to spray the pest killer!
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Wow. That sounds suspicious alright.
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Who knew it? I always thought the swedish legal system was fair and balanced. I must be naive, for this has utterly destroyed my perception of swedish justice. I wonder how this will affect the world corruption index.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:41 am
me too, jim. i always had respect for my countrys laws and ethics, much more so than any other country. this is such a spit in the face.
“Rick Falkvinge of Swedenâs Pirate Party said the revelations were indicative of ‘corruption on a completely unforgivable level.’”
brownie points for the pirate party, again. pirate party for prez.