Sweden's New Anti-Piracy Law Arouses Controversy

Sweden's Council on Legislation’s recent statements hint towards embracing a new law meant to facilitate the capture of suspected online pirates.

What this law - supported by the government - would grant, is the permission for copyright owners to ask for personal information of any alleged copyright infringer based on their IP address.

While the law itself is founded on a more extensive EU directive the Council on Legislation said that Sweden's regulation extends pass the directive.

The fact that the law would give this “power” to the copyright owners to demand personal information in case they suspect someone is breaking the law produced numerous critics already. The data so obtained by the copyright owners would be used in filing lawsuits for gaining damage fees.

"People should have the right to access information in connection with a trial," says the EU directive. The law will come into force on April next year.