14 DAY TRIAL // Sweden's Pirate Party is getting some high scores in the polls and may be able to secure a seat in the European parliament. The party is the third biggest in the country according to polls ahead of the European elections, as Times Online reports, and its popularity is growing, especially after the Pirate Bay trial, which was a national event there.
The Pirate Party is a pro file-sharing group that fights for copyright reform as its main agenda. Some of its claims are free file sharing, cheaper CDs, as well as removing patent rights and DRM. The party has seen increased popularity in Sweden and now has its eyes set on the European Parliament. Christian Engstrom, the Pirate Party's top candidate, had this to say: "The plan is Sweden, Europe, the world. In that order."
“This is a fateful question for Europe,” Engstrom said, considering that this was a moment when things would start to change at a global level. The Pirate Party’s leader, Rick Falkvinge, added: “The establishment and the politicians have declared war against our entire generation. Our politicians are digital illiterates. We need politicians that will not let themselves be bullied by foreign powers. To vote in the EU elections is more important than ever before.”
The Pirate Party has seen a surge in membership after the conviction of the Pirate Bay's owners earlier this year. Its numbers rose from 14,700 before the trial to 46,200 a month after. Sweden has a very big number of Internet users and high broadband penetration and has had a somewhat lax attitude towards illegal file sharing. This is apparent in the number of young people in the party who make up almost half of their membership.
The party is highly focused on communications and media, as its statement reads: “It is important to keep the right to privacy and the right to communicate by free e-mail, phone and post. It should feel safe and secure to use the Internet. Therefore the state should not make any infringements and hunt an entire generation.”