Partner of "Abmahnkönig" arrested

Most IT interested members will probably remember the Munich firm of solicitors Günther Freiherr von Gravenreuth and Bernhard Syndikus who made a name for themselves - notoriety would probably be a better description - a few years back with dubious "Abmahnbriefe" on a massive scale, charging people who had an Internet site that they had infringed somebody or other's (sometimes fictional) copyright and demanding excessive fees, which many private individuals and small companies paid because they feared the costs invoved in fighting the case.

Last week Syndikus was arrested on suspicion of being the head of the biggest group of Internet pirates yet to be caught in Germany. They apparently have 45,000 customers paying 135 € / month (who ought to be seriously worried now!) for cheap computer games, music, software and cinema films - which were occasionally available before their release to the cinemas.

Considering the grief he caused to thousands of people, one has got to hope they put him in jail and throw away the key. Unfortunately he'll probably get off with a few million Euro fine and laugh all the way back home.

Bearing in mind, that this is the country that sentenced a cannibal for 8 years (probably out in 5) and a couple of rape cases I've seen the rapist get only 2 years.

Then nicking a bit of software will probably only, as you said, get a big fine and 1-2 years.

Yeah, and if it's under 2 years it can be "auf Bewährung", which means that as long as he doesn't do anything stupid, he doesn't spend any time behind bars.

On the other hand, this light treatment of white collar crime is not just a German problem, it's the same everywhere.

and if he was drunk at the time, that will be taken into consideration...in his favour! well, drunks who stab someone to death may get only two years because they were "under the influence"...

I first came to Germany in 1973 (apart from a brief spell at school) and at that time they had either just changed the law, or were about to change the law whereby you could get off with having an accident while driving because you were drunk and were not fully in control of yourself!

This exists in England too. It's called a suspended sentence.

Thanks, I'd forgotten the phrase - didn't have much need for it when I lived in the UK!