This is the heaviest sentence handed down in France for an illegal downloading case, which marks the end of the T411 adventure. The two creators of the site will have to pay no less than 489 million euros to the rights holders whose works were distributed free of charge on the site.
If you visited the French Internet in the mid-2010s, you most likely heard of T411. Until its merger with what would later become its spiritual successor, YggTorrent, T411 was the reference site for illegal downloading in France. A monster popularity, which of course eventually reached the ears of the authorities. Since then, the site no longer exists and its creators must answer for their actions in court.
After the opening of an investigation in June 2017 for counterfeiting, criminal conspiracy and money laundering, the Rennes public prosecutor’s office has just pronounced the sanction. The least we can say is that we feel a certain desire on the part of the justice system to make T411 an example for French pirates, as the sentence handed down is so heavy.
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T411 receives the heaviest sentence in France for an illegal download site
Two defendants were targeted aware of the affair: Mr. Jolicoeur, creator of the site, and Mr. Voitenk, system administrator. The first receives the heaviest sentence: 3 years in prison and 150,000 euros fine. The second, for his part, will have to serve 18 months in prison, 13 of which will be suspended. A significant sanction, therefore, but still far from the sentences handed down for other pirates around the world.
It is on the side of damages that we must look to understand the extent of the decision of the Rennes public prosecutor’s office. Between them, the creators of T411 will have to pay no less than 471 million euros to various production studios whose films they illegally distributed, as well as 18 million euros to rights holders of musical works. Mr. Jolicoeur will have to pay 70% of this sum, compared to 30% for his partner.
This is the heaviest sentence ever handed down in France for a case of illegal downloading. Mr. Voitenko is already planning to appeal.
Source : BFM TV
