A Danish man has been convicted of sharing nude scenes from copyrighted films and TV shows on the social media site Reddit.
According to a police document obtained by BBC News, this man - who remains unnamed - shared 347 clips of naked scenes in a Reddit group he moderated, resulting in 4.2 million views.
As a consequence, the Danish police have sentenced him to seven months in prison, which is suspended. This action was taken under a rarely invoked section of Danish copyright law, where the judge ruled that by removing these scenes from their original context, the man infringed on the artists' 'moral rights'.
Additionally, the man was also found guilty of distributing over 25 terabytes of copyrighted data. Between March 2022 and May 2023, he, known by the username 'KlammereFyr' on Reddit, posted sexually explicit scenes featuring more than 100 actresses.
His subreddit had over 6,000 members, and users could request clips of specific actors. In 2023, advocacy groups reported the infringement to the police, leading to the closure of the subreddit.
Andrea Vagn Jensen, one of the actresses whose explicit clips were shared, stated that there is a significant difference between appearing nude in a film and being shared on platforms like Reddit, labeling the posts as 'abuse'.
'An important signal'
Arrested in September 2024, the man pleaded guilty the following month. In a statement post-verdict, Maria Fredenslund, head of the Rights Alliance (TRA), emphasized that the ruling sends an important signal that violations of artists' rights have repercussions.
This ruling is notable for its unique approach in Denmark, focusing on the violation of the 'moral rights' of artists as defined by the Danish Copyright Act, ensuring their work isn't used in ways that damage their reputation. Copyright law expert Dr. Alina Trapova described the case as 'rare' for its emphasis on artistic integrity rather than economic loss.
How this case might influence legislation in other countries remains uncertain, but experts anticipate an increase in similar actions, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence and the potential threats it poses to the integrity of creative works.
