Judge says sharing music over the Internet is not a crime in Spain

Judge says sharing music over the Internet is not a crime in Spain
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By h.b. - Nov 2, 2006 - 7:23 AM

Archive Photo EFE

A Santander judge has released a man who was facing a two year prison sentence for downloading and sharing music over the net

The judge in Penal Court 3 in Santander, Paz Aldecoa, has ruled that downloading music on the Internet is not a crime, provided that it is not done to make money.

The judge found a 48 year old Internet user not guilty, after he was facing demands from the prosecution for a two year prison sentence and 7,200 € fine for downloading and sharing music over the web.

The judge considered that article 31 of the Intellectual Property Law in Spain established the right of the public to obtain copies of music without permission of the author, provided they were for private use and no profit was made.

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