9.6.2006
Fourth Swedish party bending in the filesharing issue
Dagens Nyheter
reports that Center Party is now also changing its stand on the filesharing issue. With its 22 seats the party is the second smallest in the Swedish Parliament. Center Party's Johan Linander says: "Copying of copyrighted material does not always lead to fewer sold CDs. Many of the songs would never have been bought on an album. My impression is that filesharing rather leads to an increased interest in music and films, which in some cases can increase sales figures too."
There are seven parties in the Parliament, and now four out of them have already announced being ready to review to law and to allow private filesharing. The parties still opposing a change in the law are Social Democrats (144 seats), Liberal Party (48 seats) and Christian Democrats (33 seats). Marianne Carlström from Social Democrats is unwilling to change a law that has come into effect just a year ago. "But it is clear that we are following the issue", she says, leaving a door open for negotiations. On the other hand Justice Minister Thomas Bodström, a Social Democrat too, has indicated willingness to discuss legalization of filesharing (just a day after he said strictly "no") so the party is sending mixed messages. Should Social Democrats - by far the largest party in Sweden - also give in under the mounting political pressure, the legalization of filesharing would be almost certain already before the election. This would be a major political victory for the pirates and a powerful example for the filesharers in other countries to follow.