The war between IFPI and the Pirate Bay continues with a new banning of the site in Denmark ruled by a Danish court at the beginning of February this year.

Exactly a year ago, in February 2008, following an IFPI action, a Danish court ruled that Tele2 had to block its users from accessing The Pirate Bay. Now, the court has issued a preliminary injunction against DMT meaning that all ISPs owned by DMT have to deny their users' access to The Pirate Bay. Also, in January 2009, TDC, the largest Danish ISP and owner of most of the cables, decided to block access to the Swedish site as a preventive measure.

However, ISPs are not happy with the decision and three of them, TDC, Telia and Telenor have announced their intention to go with the matter to the Supreme Court arguing they should not be held responsible for the potential copyright infringement of their subscribers. "Accessing The Pirate Bay is not in itself a violation of copyright" said Jens Ottosen of Telia. He also added: "We make access possible for our subscribers, and they have to decide if it is illegal. It is not our task. If so, we also contribute to illegalities on YouTube, Myspace and Google."

In case ISPs' action does not succeed in reversing the Danish court ruling, the Pirate Bay itself is now considering suing IFPI. "They have had a monopoly on distribution and we're breaking that monopoly, and in turn they sue people that allow access to our distribution method," told Peter Sunde, co-founder of The Pirate Bay to TorrentFreak. The Pirate Bay team considers IFPI's action is not only an inefficient attempt to censor Internet, but rather a personal vendetta against Pirate Bay.

Until then, the Pirate Bay is facing the big trial that will take place in Sweden, at Stockholm's District Court, on 16 February where IFPI is one of the parts.

The Pirate Bay is asking for a very open, public trial. Pirate Bay co-founder Fredrik Neij has asked for a much large trial room considering the case as one of the biggest political cases in recent times. "I NEED a room for at least 150 people, 20 reserved for the family and 80 to 100 reserved for the press and public. It need not be in the same room, but we need several rooms REQUIRING video too, not just sound," he asked. Also co-founder Peter Sunde said he wanted the case to be transmitted live on the web. "We want to show how it works. Cards on the table, everything should be transparent!"

Danish ISPs to Fight the Pirate Bay Block (5.02.2009)

The Pirate Bay Plans to Sue IFPI (6.02.2009)

The Pirate Bay Demand Webcast of Trial (7.02.2009)

EDRIgram: PirateBay - blocked in Denmark (13.02.2008)

Source: EDRI-gram „Pirate Bay in legal battle with IFPI" Number 7.3, February 11, 2009