TPB Investigator to Cash in Temporarily at Warner Bros

[Bolt_Gundam510]

by Ernesto

A few days ago we reported that one of the star witnesses in The Pirate Bay case was hired by Warner Bros., one of the plaintiffs in the Pirate Bay case. Fishy at least, but it gets even worse. It now turns out that the job at Warner Bros is only temporary, and after 6 months he will return to his police job.

Last week, police officer (IT forensics) Jim Keyzer proudly announced his new job at Warner Bros on his Facebook profile, not realizing that many Pirate Bay followers were keeping a close eye on him. Keyzer swiftly deleted his profile, but it was too late, as The Pirate Bay was already writing a press release on the awkward job change.

Pirate Bay’s Peter Sunde (brokep) said in a response to the unusual move by the officer:

“He [Keyzer] confirmed that he is an employee there [Warner Bros’] and we can’t see it in any other way than this being the reward for work well done from the new employer of the police, the entertainment industry”

In the days to come new information surfaced, as it became clear that Keyzer was not quitting his police job, but that he was only hired by Warner Bros. for six months. Unsurprisingly, the rumors that the job at the movie studio was a reward for his investigation into The Pirate Bay, became even stronger.

In a short statement, Warner Bros. state that the investigator was not employed or paid by the movie studio while he was still working on the case. A spokesman says the claims of the policeman having affected the investigation for his own ends is pure speculation.

Warner Bros. refuses to comment on questions regarding the job and salary negotiations, which must have started before the investigation came to an end. This is not the first time the copyright industry has hired filesharing investigators from the police, and in some cases the job negotiations indeed began while the investigations were still ongoing.

According to prosecutor, Håkan Roswall, this is exactly what the Swedish anti-piracy organization Antipiratbyrån did a couple of years ago. “That policeman was recruited during the investigation as well, so this is nothing unusual. He testified at the trial and the court didn’t take that into consideration,” Roswall said.

When asked why these companies are so interested in hiring the police investigators, Roswall said: “Because they are exceptionally skilled people.”

“It could be seen as a positive thing that the policeman has worked for Warner. That will broaden his competence in filesharing cases.” he added. Perhaps The Pirate Bay should hire an IT-forensics specialist from the police as well?

Source: Torrent Freak

[Samurai]

Interesting article. Thanks for the read :)

[JunkInternetMail]

@OP

Thanks for posting this...did a few things...

1) Taught me how far both sides will go...

AND

2) Brought Samurai out of retirement!

Welcome back Samurai!