Intellectual Property Law

Pirate Bay Buyer Says Record Deal Imminent

By David Kravets

The buyer of The Pirate Bay, the world’s most notorious BitTorrent tracker, says one of the “Big Four” record labels is set to hawk their wares on the site once Global Gaming Factory turns it into a pay-to-play destination, Swedish media reports.

Global Gaming Factory, of Sweden, is expected to close the $7.7 million purchase of The Pirate Bay within weeks. It said it plans to go legitimate, and turn the site where pirates go for free media to one where reformed pirates pay.

“We almost have a contract ready with one of them,” Hans Pandeya, Global Gaming’s chief executive, said referring to EMI, Universal Music, Sony Music and Warner Music.

A representative for the labels declined comment.

Pirate Bay’s four co-founders were sentenced to a year in prison this spring after being convicted in Stockholm of facilitating copyright infringement. They remain free pending appeals.

Illustration: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

See Also:

• ‘Brokep’ Quits Pirate Bay
• Studios Demand Court Shutter Pirate Bay
• The Pirate Bay Guilty; Jail for File-Sharing Foursome
• Pirate Bay 2.0: Pay Pirates to Become Consumers
• Pirate Bay Buyer Says Deal Nearly Done
• Pirate Bay Heads to Davy Jones’ Locker

Full post as published by Threat Level on August 05, 2009 (boomark / email).