Sweden to sign controversial anti-piracy law

A controversial new anti-piracy law has been signed, with Swedish lawmakers implying they will not stop the law from going into effect in April 2009.

Specifically, the Lagrådet Legislative Council will make it easier for copyright holders, such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), to receive court orders forcing Internet service providers (ISPs) to hand over information based solely on an IP address.

Before that can be done, the copyright holder must prove that a user tied to an IP address shared copyrighted content with other users.  Gathered evidence can be used to either seek monetary damages or show that copyright law has been broken by a specific computer user.

"These laws are written by digital illiterates who behave like blindfolded, drunken elephants trumpeting about in an egg packaging facility," Swedish Pirate Party Chairman Rick Falkvinge told TorrentFreak.  "They have no idea how much damage they’re causing, because they lack today’s literacy:  an understanding of how the Internet is reshaping the power structure at their core."

The bill must now be presented to Parliament.  Sweden is home of The Pirate Bay, and a throng of pro-piracy legislators who will likely put up a strong fight against the bill.

Even though it sounds easy, due to archaic evidence gathering and false or factually wrong accusations, it’ll be interesting to see how this Swedish law plays out in April 2009 and beyond.