Pirate Bay judge under fire for conflict of interest

[groundloop]

Source: Christian Science Monitor

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – The judge who sentenced the founders of The Pirate Bay website to jail last week has been accused of failing to disclose a conflict of interest that may result in the trial verdict being overturned (in-depth coverage of the case is found here).

Swedish public radio revealed that the judge, Thomas Norström, is a member of several copyright protection associations, whose members include Monique Wadsted and Peter Danowsky – attorneys who represented the music and movie industries in the recent case. According to the report, Judge Norström also serves as a board member on one of the groups of which Mrs. Wadsted, the Motion Picture Association of America’s attorney, is a member.

The founders of the site are already appealing the conviction (read the Monitor’s story here). But the news sparked an outcry from the defense attorney representing Peter Sunde, the website’s spokesman.

”I was astonished, to say the least, that the judge put himself in a position where a conflict of interest could arise. It’s hard to understand why he did not disclose this information at the outset,” says The Pirate Bay’s defense attorney Peter Althin, adding that he would call on the appeals court to overturn the verdict and refer the case back for a retrial.


Read more: http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/04/23/pirate-bay-judge-under-fire-for-conflict-of-interest/

[mainegreen]

1. Doh.

[Wickerman]

2. Yep, those are some legitimates

in the conflict of interest department.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Oopsie

The Pirate Bay decision is already very unpopular in Sweden. This will only add to the tension.

[hunter]

4. Wow.

The judge and the prosecution take a poison pill before the trial and die along with the guilty verdict. Who will clean up the putrid mess in the courtroom?

[blueclown]

5. WTF was the defense thinking?

Why wasn't this brought up before the case went to trial?

[ejpoeta]

6. i'm going to guess they didn't know. one would think the judge would have been

smart enough to consider the conflict of interest emblazened in neon!! what a joke!

[Occulus]

7. Anyone want to apologize for the music/movie industry thugs NOW?

Didn't think so.

If they could make it a copyright violation to hum their tunes or show movies to friends in one's own home, they would.

A pox upon the lot of them. The industry deserves Pirate Bay.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. We have one a couple posts below...

[Posteritatis]

8. Whar's me popcorn? (nt)

[ACTION BASTARD]

9. Aaaaaar!

Stand-fast you bunch of scalawags! The fighting isn't over! Go TPB!!!!!


Pirate 4 Life!

[Codeine]

10. Aw, that's so cute.

You're a generic IP thief with no respect for artists but you're convinced you're some kind of warrior for justice.

Grow up, kids.

[Dogmudgeon]

11. "Grow up, kids" ... love that photo.

It's so rad.

--d!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. So, about the OP, do you have anything to say? -nt

[Codeine]

14. Yeah. Clear conflict of interest. Totally grounds for a retrial.

Piracy of intellectual property still sucks balls, however.