The Pirate Bay trial begins today in Stockholm.
The three founders, accused by the entertainment industry
of costing thousands of jobs due to illegal downloading,
will appear in court charged with copyright infringement.
Where does this story actually start?
When Daniel Ek, some kid from Rågsved suddenly created a music player?
Or does it go further back in time?
To the chaos of the early 2000s,
in the fear and disorder of a music industry in crisis?
An industry that for decades had a turnover of 20 billion SEK a year...
But one that was now it's on its knees...
thanks to three brats and a server.
Don't stop Pirate Bay!
Show some respect for * sake!
Don't stop Pirate Bay!
Despicable!
It's * ruined now, I can't believe this shit.
Should be a courthouse, not a * gauntlet.
I know, but focus on the trial for now.
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Bad news? Really? Hell, the trial hasn't even begun yet.
The defense asked for half of the charges to be dropped. I just got the news.
We have to win this trial.
We can win. We will.
Okay, good. What's the good news?
The good news is that actually, all three are here.
I'm here with Peter Sunde,
the charismatic spokesperson for Pirate Bay.
Can you share any details about Pirate Bay?
This whole process is a charade.
This trial is a sham. It's a joke. We're just scapegoats.
We are just part of this media spectacle
to satisfy corrupt politicians and greedy music executives.
Per Sundin and the record companies,
they try to blame all this on us,
but it's their overpricing of CDs that made this happen in the first place.
Because nobody wants to pay for something they can get for free.
So when we win, all the music industry's secrets will be revealed
and a new dawn can begin. Thank you!
Don't make me do this.
I have no other choice.
I know these people.
I know their families. I'm godfather to some of their kids.
Listen, Per. CD sales are down 20%.
Even here in New York we are firing.
For Christ's sake, it's not the '50s anymore.
They'll get a new job.
I'm afraid I have to let you go.
I wish there was another way for this.
I'm really sorry about this.
It's from high up, I'm sorry.
- Hello. - Yes, it's Per Sundin here.
The Americans will take Sweden to the WTO if we don't do more to protect copyright.
I know. American officials came here today.
Do something then, damn it!
If we don't shut them down soon, there won't be any industry left to save.
Police! Get down!
Police! Get down! Police!
Get down! Hands behind your back!
Gottfrid Svartholm, you are under arrest for copyright infringement.
Fredrik Neij, you are under arrest for copyright infringement.
Two days.
Your raid kept Pirate Bay offline for just two days.
Right? And Peter Sunde, what the hell happened to him?
Someone tipped him off that we were on our way and he backed up all the torrents.
Then he found a new location where he can continue to keep the site running.
Holland, out of reach of the Swedish police.
Those guys are * crooks.
It makes our legal system look like a goddamn joke.
They're laughing at you, Pontén. You get that, right?
You gotta find something to charge them with.
You know what?
The traffic to Pirate Bay doubled after the raid.
What?
Yeah. We did them a favor.
- Hey Billy. - Hey.
Are you ready?
No. Jesus Christ!
You're kidding me!
While I can understand that the music industry...
Come on, it's just a barbecue. It might be nice to think about something else.
...a whole generation of young people
just because they download songs.
That'd be absurd.
It's about making culture accessible...
If things are getting that bad, maybe it's time to do something else?
I'm 44 years old, what the hell would I do?
You can do a lot.
I mean, maybe you should invest in the internet like everyone else.
The Internet? Jesus * Christ.
Well I mean, I'm just saying.
Try to have a good time Per.
And maybe forget about everything else tonight. Okay?
- Hey! - Hello!
- Flowers for the hostess. - Good to see you!
Good to be here! You look so good!
- My husband... - Hi, Per. It's nice to meet you.
What an amazing house!
So, what do y'all
want to drink?
We have white, prosecco, and... yeah!
My wife has made a fantastic mojito.
- Right! - There you go.
Greta told me you work in the music business, right?
- Yeah, that's right. - I wanna show you something.
- These bad boys, custom made. - Yeah.
They're really nice, wow.
Eight inch woofer, check it out.
Great sound!
300 Watts!
So basically, your neighbor's worst nightmare.
Yeah, I can imagine.
Okay.
Shitty download from Pirate Bay.
Sorry.
From Pirate Bay?
Everyone's doing it now.
They are?
Okay, listen. The thing is I've paid so damn much for music over the years.
You have?
Ok look...
- What was your name? - Mats.
You work as a corporate lawyer, right?
Yeah, that's right.
Yes, exciting. "The Swedish Parliament".
- This looks like an exciting read. - What are you doing?
What am I doing?
I'm just stealing some of your work.
I figure you stealing my work, so should be...
- Hey, wait a minute, you can't... - No!
You know, I paid so damn much for lawyers over the years,
I think you can afford to give me this, right.
Give me my stuff.
Your stuff?
What about mine?
And the artists' stuff?
You know, it's because of people like you, that I had to fire 60 employees lately.
fancy * speakers that they pay just about any amount of money for.
But the music?
You're not gonna * paying for that?
I apologized, what else do you want me to do?
Do you understand how humiliating that was?
He was a * idiot. People like him are destroying my industry.
No, Per. You're doing that.
What? Come on, Karin. Billy.
I don't see how I could have handled it any other way. I really don't.
- You don't, really? - No.
I didn't marry an angry guy who's always yelling about the demise of music.
You used to be able to laugh at yourself. And your business. You used to tell me
the whole music industry was a nest of thieves that could fall apart at any time.
Yeah, but when it happens in my life, it's not that funny.
Yeah, but those people at the party, they're not the bad guys.
They're not criminals. They're ordinary people doing what everyone else is doing.
People have chosen Pirate Bay Per, you have to accept it,
and find a way to make it work.
So we can start living again.
First it was just an idea, then it was a website.
But now we're a movement.
And for every day...
Every day that we stand up to them, the authorities begin to realize
that we are unstoppable.
You know what we're doing right now?
We're making history.
And can you guess...
Can you guess who the heroes of this story are?
And can you guess who the idiots of this story are?
Peter Sunde.
Yes, hello, this is Per Sundin. CEO of Sony Music.
- How did you get this number? - You got a tip about a raid.
I got a tip about a phone number.
Okay, listen, I want to talk to you.
You want to talk?
After all you've done to shut us down?
After your little * talks with the prosecutor?
You thought we didn't know, didn't you? Okay. You know what? * you.
- Hello. - Hello, don't hang up.
You know why you guys should talk to me?
Because I'm calling you to tell you that... we get it.
We get it, okay? I get it.
Every household in Sweden has Pirate Bay, I get it. So you have won. Okay?
So now you can either carry on
with your little war or you come to my office, and...
we'll have a meeting and we'll talk and see if we can work something out.
No. You come to us.
Have you heard of the Streisand effect?
- No. - Alright.
Barbra Streisand.
She wanted to block a photo of her house,
which led to it spreading all over the internet.
That's kind of what you do with file sharing.
Every time you try to crush us, we get stronger.
There must be a middle ground right?
- Between us? - Yeah, something needs to change.
Yes. So if you stop working against us,
we can put all the focus on the website.
Pirate Bay would explode.
Your artists would reach the public in a way they never had before.
You'd make so much money on merch and
touring, you probably wouldn't even miss your * record revenues.
What about your money? That you earn? Who gets a share of that?
What?
You have ads all over the * website. It's clear as hell you're making money.
Maybe together, we could find a way to compensate the artists.
Forget it.
There's no * logic to this. Your users are stealing our work.
Don't you think the artists should get paid?
We are creating a new world.
Without any * gatekeepers, where people are free to share whatever
- they want, whether it's ideas or... - Yeah, okay. But it ruins people's work!
It destroys people's lives.
This is their livelihood.
And you just take it.
And so you think that we're just gonna let it pass or what?
Because you got some idea about some great * utopia.
Who are just gonna crawl into a * hole and die,
because you want it that way.
What about the creators? How do you intend to deal with them?
Every time that I hear you babbling on,
I'm reminded of how * important this work we do is.
We're creating a new world where we decide the value of what we do.
With every download from Pirate Bay, we move one step closer to that reality.
And when you, and your little * industry,
have collapsed and everything you love has died,
then I'll know I've done my job.
Hey, buddy.
What's that?
Um... YouTube.
What do you do on there?
Watch videos and stuff.
People who have recorded and uploaded their own videos?
Yeah, pretty much.
Look at this.
Yeah? I see. Cool.
Pirate Bay?
Mhm.
How long have you been doing this?
- Maybe two years. - Two? Why's that?
It's just, all the music you want is there. It's really awesome.
The fact that the artists don't get paid, you don't have a problem with that?
That's really not the point, you don't understand. I mean...
they have the biggest site.
All the music in the world, everything you can think of, at your fingertips.
I guess that's pretty cool.
You just type in what you want...
- Bobbi T. - Yeah.
She doesn't even have a record deal, but she's still here.
She's creating a fanbase on Pirate Bay.
- Bobbi T? - Yeah.
How many people are listening to her today?
Yeah, here. 95.
Yeah. I'll be damned.
Yeah, it's Sundin.
Turn on the TV.
I hope you are satisfied.
But if you lose, your company will never recover.
Prosecutors have told us that charges will be brought against Pirate Bay
The three defendants who have contested charges are expected to appear in court.
Karin!
- What's up? - You hear that?
Now the prosecutor has decided to take Pirate Bay to court.
Copyright infringement.
- Okay. - So they'll * get it now.
Dad, are you kidding?
Two minutes ago, I was explaining their site to you. What happened?
But this is about the law, about right and wrong.
They're common thieves.
Look...
Look at this.
This is both a work of art and craftsmanship.
Someone recorded that, mixed it and produced it.
Packaged it, designed it and then sold it.
You and your generation need to understand that this has actual value.
You just sit in front of the computer and play pointless video games all day.
Pointless games?
Well, you get what I mean.
I'm right, you know it.
I'm right. Tell him.
Yes! Yes, I did. It's great, she's got something.
- I know. - Have you booked us for a live gig?
No, but I'll get on it.
Good.
And Daniel Ek wants a meeting.
Daniel Ek? Who the hell is that?
He has started a streaming service, Spotify.
No. Not right now.
Okay.
And your wife has called. She's made a reservation at Peo's. Seven o'clock.
Do you want some wine?
Yes.
You're a little hard on William.
Yeah I know. I know it's...
Sorry.
You said his whole culture was crap.
No, I didn't say it like that, did I?
Come on Per. You used to be a teenager.
You know what it's like to have your own thing.
You're proud of doing what you love at that age.
True, but... I used to be proud of something I created.
Mh.
Not just stealing from others that do these things.
Think about it, our parents...
How did they feel when the punk thing happened?
We loved it, to upset our parents.
Yeah.
We loved that what we did shock them.
Yeah.
I remember...
if someone shut a door on you, you'll always find a new door.
That's one of the reasons I fell for you.
Really?
You saw opportunities, not limitations.
Don't be so damn old, Per.
This is Daniel Ek. He's one wanted to meet you.
I wanted to talk to you because I know how to save the music industry.
Okay.
Sure, good night.
You understand that something needs to change
and we have something, it's a music player.
Are you planning to run a demo here on the street?
This isn't like anything you've ever seen before.
We're talking free music on a whole new level.
- Design, intelligence, quality... - Wait.
What did you say?
- Well, I... - You said free music.
Who the * do you think you are?
- Music can never be free! - I wanted to talk to you...
It's not some * plastic toy you get in a cereal box.
- Yeah, I know but... - No! Music.
Do you know what that is? It's art.
I'm not at all interested in that.
Understand?
Good night.
What a * clown!
How many * 20-year-olds are out there, try to destroy our industry?
What did you think of the gig?
Well, it was...
It was good.
It was damn good.
We'll sign her, right?
Yeah. I think so.
Good.
Do you think I'm getting...
kind of old?
You're 44.
Yes, I'm aware.
That was a diplomatic answer?
This streaming guy, how the hell did he know I was at the gig?
- Someone must have told him. - Yeah.
What for?
Because I've seen it. I've seen how good it is.
Bobbi.
- Hey! - Hi!
Welcome, it's great that you could come.
It was great, you have your own sound.
That's why we asked you to come to the studio...
Today, so we can try out some ideas. If you're comfortable with that?
Are you kidding?
Of course.
Well, times are tough, but we... We must dare to be brave.
Back awesome artists like you and make music that we love.
Thanks, I...
Here's our lawyer. She's put together a...
- Hello, Sandra. - Hi. Bobbi. Hi.
...an agreement that you can look at if you want. So you know what...
I don't know how to thank you.
My mom is never going to believe this.
It's what we do. "Making dreams come true."
Shall we go?
Yeah.
She's a damn star.
Mh.
Hey, when's that guy coming?
He's here.
Right.
I want to apologize for the other night. I could have handled it better.
- No, it's alright. I survived. - Okay, that's good.
Thanks for coming. We've been looking forward to it.
Yes, likewise. What a studio! Really cool.
Maybe you've heard of ABBA?
- Here? - Yeah, exactly.
- Really? - Mhm, yeah.
- Okay, so... - Yeah?
That thing, can you show it to me?
- Yes, absolutely. - Great.
As I said to you last time in some frustration,
I'm pretty sick of this idea of free music.
But sorry, yeah, so do your thing.
I promised Steffi I'd behave myself, so...
Let's go.
Okay.
- It looks nice. - Yes. Music is beautiful.
Everything that is being created in this room is art.
And I want where you go to play the songs to be just as special.
That's why we created Spotify.
We have no interest in letting the future destroy the past,
but we do want to take the past and combine it with something new.
The solo CDs and vinyls combined with the speed of digital.
What do you mean by speed?
Well, type in a song.
Alright.
Where do I find the song library then, there's...
Well, it's on a server a mile away but
but none of us want to go there, so just type a song in.
- But how do you know which song... - You can pick any song you want.
- I can pick? - Any song.
- Okay. Should I download now, or... - No. Just click it.
- Yeah, but it hasn't buffered... - No. Just press play.
How the hell did you do that?
Type in another one.
- Anything? - Anything.
Okay.
This is unbelievable.
Wait a minute...
But how...?
How's...?
- Do you store all the songs? - They come directly from here, online.
This is crazy, I can't believe it.
Shit.
So this is the world's first pure streaming site.
And the best part, everyone gets paid.
I can't believe it.
- Bobbi? - Yeah. You were at the gig.
Yep.
You know her?
Yeah. We went to the same school.
She's * awesome. She'll go far.
Yeah she will.
Hi, Per. Are you okay?
Hi.
Per?
It's a jukebox.
It's a * infinite digital jukebox.
Sweden. I have an appointment with the CEO.
Good to see you, Per. Mr. Stringer is waiting for you.
- Looks like another iTunes to me. - Well, I know how much we all hate digital
but this, this is different.
Streaming.
It's the first thing I've seen that could actually draw people away from Pirate Bay.
Yes, well...
Well, thank you, Per. We'll certainly think about it.
You'll think about it?
Yes. It's a huge, smart, fast player.
But we won't do anything before we have the verdict from the Pirate Bay trial.
We don't have time to wait.
We're dying. We're in the * Titanic.
You do not have to teach me about loss.
Sweden is a little shit compared with what we have to deal with here.
Well, Pirate Bay is bleeding us to death.
And I've got Maxine here, on the phone, suggesting more firings.
And I can't do that.
There won't be a Sony Sweden left anymore.
You know who I resent, Per?
MTV. MTV were the first people to rip us off.
I can't have that happen again.
With all due respect, sir, that was 25 years ago.
That's not today, that's over.
Nobody under the age of 45 gives a flying * about MTV.
MTV, what...
Per!
Lucian! Hey, what an honor. What's Universal doing on enemy territory?
You know, just some legal stuff.
When are you joining us? Transfer soon?
Well, sooner rather than later, I would say.
So, how are you? Here for the Pirate Bay trial?
Well, kind of.
Tried to get my superiors to see the future, but um...
failed.
And... What's the future?
Could I buy you lunch? Yeah?
Psychedelic Furs.
Always liked them.
My first signing.
I know. You're a legend, Lucian. True legend.
Tell me more about it.
These guys are young and part of a new generation.
But they wanna work with us. They're not Pirate Bay.
There's no politics. They're just * tech geeks.
They've got the technology, they've got the ideas.
And if we don't embrace that, you know,
if we don't take this chance, I think we're totally *.
You know, I've done business in Sweden.
Nobody ever drives a hard bargain, nobody fights to win.
Meaning?
The US will be the last to move, we're too big. Too many lawyers.
It might be you are the ones in the eye of the hurricane.
You have State Finance Broadband, Pirate Bay...
And now this thing.
So what do you think of it?
It's the perfect player, isn't it?
Yeah. It is the perfect player.
It'll take time, though.
Nobody will ever sign a deal that involves free music.
But there must be a solution.
I would start the process,
trying to make a deal with Spotify, try to figure it out,
domestic solutions first.
Okay...
But...
But what?
I wouldn't do it without you, Per. Swap team.
You kidding me?
No.
For the crime of aiding and abetting the theft of copyrighted material
I find the defendants and the Pirate Bay website...
- Guilty. - This verdict is absolute crap.
The defendants are guilty on all counts,
which means that this court sentences them to one year imprisonment
and to pay compensation of 30 million SEK.
This is a waste of time and money. And this is a travesty of justice!