Guns N’ Roses pirate pleads not guilty

A man previously arrested for pirating the newest Guns N’ Roses album has pleaded not guilty in federal court at the beginning of the week.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says Kevin Coghill, 27, violated federal copyright laws after allegedly placing nine songs from the new Guns N’ Roses album online without the band’s permission.

No trial date has been set.

The nine tracks were posted on his blog, and he believed he would not be in legal trouble once the songs were removed from his web site.  However he was arrested in August in Los Angeles and released later the same day after posting bail.

"So remember when we let you guys listen to some (allegedly, ha) new Guns N’ Roses songs we got our hands on?" he posted on his web site. "Well, either way the FBI sure does. They’ve been investigating and talking to me about that event ever since. If there are any lawyers out there horny for some high-profile copyright law battle, drop us a line."

Members of Guns N’ Roses said they did not condone Coghill’s actions, but indicated they were more worried about his source who provided him with the songs.

If found guilty, Coghill faces up to three years in federal prison, or up to five years in prison if prosecutors can show he posted the songs online for monetary reasons.  Coghill also faces up to $250,000 in fines, along with civil lawsuits that could be filed by Guns N’ Roses or its record label.

Guns N Roses’ "Chinese Democracy" album will be the band’s first labum in 17 years, after it seemingly ruled the American metal scene during the 1980s and early ’90s.

The new album will go on sale Nov. 23, and the first single, Chinese Democracy, has been sent to radio stations across the United States.