The Pärnu County Court found Raido Käärid, owner of local file sharing website eestitorrent.com, guilty of copyright infringement and fined him 645 euros.
The website illegally distributed a wide range of films and music, providing access to both Estonian and international titles. TV shows running on Estonian channels were also actively recorded and distributed via the site.
"The illegal distribution of [copyright material] over the internet is a crime that directly disrespects all the people who have contributed to our [having] music to listen to and films to watch," said Erik Mandre, CEO of the Organization for Copyright Protection. Madre added that none of the people punished for copyright infringement ever expect to be cought by the police, nevertheless it happens.
In Estonia, the reproduction and distribution of commercial works without the author's permission is a felony punishable by up to three years imprisonment.
Ingrid Teesalu
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