Appeal Court backs first criminal BitTorrent conviction
18 May 2007
Peter Ollier, Hong Kong
Hong Kong's highest court today dismissed an appeal against the world's first conviction for infringing copyright by sharing files using BitTorrent technology
Hong Kong's highest court today dismissed an appeal against the world's first conviction for infringing copyright by sharing files using BitTorrent technology.
Lawyers say that the ruling could make it more likely that similar cases are brought in other jurisdictions.
Chan Nai-ming, who used the internet alias Big Crook, had distributed three films using BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing technology. He was convicted of copyright infringement and sentenced to three months in jail in October 2005 at Tuen Mun Magistrates Court.
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in December 2006, but the case was then appealed to the Court of Final Appeal.
Chan was convicted under section 118 (1)(f) of Hong Kong's Copyright Ordinance, which states: "A person...
Only subscribers have complete access to Managing IP Magazine,
log in or
subscribe now.
Alternatively take a
free trial, giving you 48-hour access to Managing IP Magazine (some articles and surveys may be excluded).
Subscribe Now
This article is available to subscribers. Please click subscribe to read the rest of the article.
Subscribe
Take a free trial
Please take a free 48-hour trial to gain limited access. Some articles and surveys may be excluded.
Take a free trial