File-Sharer Can’t Believe His Luck With $7 Per Track Fine

In a case that is likely to set guidelines for the punishment of file-sharers in the future, a 26 year-old man from Sweden has escaped his court hearing with little more than a tap on the wrist. After being tracked by the IFPI and accused of making available 44 music tracks on the Internet, the man was taken to court last week. His punishment was a 2000 kronor fine – just $311.

File-sharers in the United States are used to hearing about mind-boggling fines handed down to the likes of Jammie Thomas-Rasset and Joel Tenenbaum. After significant legal wrangling, the proceedings against these individuals resulted in damages payable of $1.5m and $67,500 respectively, astonishing amounts for what were essentially petty file-sharing offenses.