🔗 Share this article

A Denmark-based citizen has been found guilty of sharing sexually explicit scenes from protected movies and television shows on the social media site Reddit.

Based on a law enforcement document reviewed by media outlets, the unnamed individual shared 347 video excerpts of explicit scenes in a Reddit group he moderated, which were then viewed 4.2 million-plus times.

Danish police confirm he has been given a 7-month suspended jail term for violating copyright laws.

Experts say the defendant was prosecuted under a rarely-used clause in Danish copyright law, with the court ruling that by removing the footage out of their original context, the accused had harmed the artists' "ethical entitlements".

He has additionally been found guilty of distributing more than 25 terabytes of copyrighted data.

From March 2022 to May 2023, the man known as "KlammereFyr" on Reddit uploaded adult clips including over 100 actresses.

He distributed them in the forum he was a moderator of.

According to the Denmark's anti-piracy organization the Rights Alliance, his online community had more than 6,000 members and users were encouraged to ask for excerpts of specific performers.

In last year, campaigners filed the case to the authorities on behalf of the impacted actors, directors and production companies, which resulted in the forum being closed down.

One actress, one of the actresses whose nude scenes were circulated in the community, explained to local broadcasters at the period she felt there was a distinction between appearing naked in a movie and being shown on Reddit.

The actress stated the posts constituted "abuse".

'A significant signal'

The man was detained in fall 2024 and pleaded guilty to the allegations last month.

In a comment following the verdict, TRA head Maria Fredenslund said the outcome sent an "significant" message "indicating violations of creators' entitlements has consequences".

The ruling is viewed as unique in the country for its use of the "moral rights" section of the national copyright law, which states an artist's work cannot be used in a manner which violates their reputation.

Intellectual property expert Dr Alina Trapova informed the media the legal matter was "rare" for its focus on the damage to the integrity of an artist, rather than to them financially.

How the ruling could affect nations abroad is uncertain.

But she added there may be "an increasing number of such cases" in the future with the advancement of AI, where "the integrity of one's creative output might be compromised much more easily".