The prosecution of South Africa’s first digital pirate has been concluded at the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town, according to a report.
Htxt reports Majedien Norton pleaded guilty to copyright infringement after illegally distributing the South African film The Four Corners on a torrent site.
Norton has received a five-year suspended sentence in a plea bargain with the state.
“It’s a huge relief for me and my wife,” Norton is quoted as saying. “I’m just glad we can put this behind us now and move on.”
Norton uploaded The Four Corners, a film about gangsterism in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, to torrent site The Pirate Bay in November last year.
The South African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT) initially brought the charges forward, claiming Norton’s file was first generation – taken straight from the film studio – according to the report.
Digital piracy has made its way into headlines in South Africa recently, with partnerships being forged between tech firms and the South African Police Service (SAPS)
Last month, Microsoft announced a crackdown with the SAPS on a number of software pirates, leading to a number of arrests and convictions.
The effort was led by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) and Anti-Piracy teams, in cooperation with SAPS’ Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations, known locally as The Hawks.
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