The three founders of the filesharing site - Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg and Peter Sunde Kolmsioppi, plus Carl Lundstrom, who has provided funding - were also ordered to pay fines of 30m kronor to a number of entertainment companies, including the music majors.

The music industry as a whole welcomes the decision. IFPI chairman and CEO John Kennedy says, "The trial of the operators of The Pirate Bay was about defending the rights of creators, confirming the illegality of ...