site.btaUPDATED Three Charged after Operation against EU-Based Torrent Sites

Three individuals were charged and released on their own recognizance following an operation against three of the largest torrent platforms based in the European Union for the illegal distribution of copyright-protected content, the prosecution service said on Monday.

Sofia's Deputy Prosecutor Desislava Petrova explained that the operation covered 44 locations. A total of 30 searches and seizures were carried out at addresses including offices of commercial companies, passenger vehicles, as well as personal searches.

The actions were conducted within the framework of four investigations in total, two by the Sofia City Prosecution Office and two by the Sofia District Prosecution Office.

A money laundering investigation is underway at the Sofia City Prosecution Office, with a computer forensic examination ordered and suspicious financial flows to EU and non-EU countries being checked, Prosecutor Petrova said. In connection with the investigation, six requests for legal assistance and one European Investigation Order have been sent.

Georgi Kodzhanikolov, a prosecutor at the Sofia District Prosecution Office, said the charges concern the creation and maintenance of platforms for the exchange of copyrighted works. The three defendants have given explanations, but further work on the case remains. Requests and applications for international legal assistance have also been prepared and sent to the US. He explained that until August 2023, legislation provided only for administrative sanctions and fines for crimes related to intellectual property and copyright infringement. “We are currently working on a legal text providing for prison sentences of one to six years, or in serious cases from two to eight years,” Kodzhanikolov said.

Bulgaria has been on the so-called “Special 301 List” for several years - the only European country included - which hampers its accession to organizations such as the OECD and others, creates a negative image of the country, and deters foreign investment. “We have been repeatedly informed that as long as such large pirate platforms - among the largest in the EU - continue to operate, Bulgaria cannot be removed from the Special 301 List,” said investigator Svetoslav Vasilev, head of the Cybercrime Department at the National Investigative Service. He noted that this list is an annual review compiled by the Office of the US Trade Representative identifying countries that fail to provide adequate protection of intellectual property rights. As a result, a Cybercrime Unit was established within the Sofia City Prosecution Office, and “a decision was taken to put an end to this activity,” Vasilev said. He added that the investigation includes data on suspicious financial transactions involving both fiat currency and crypto assets.

General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime Director Boyan Raev said that four people were arrested during the operation, which was carried out in the Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv and Pernik regions. “In June, when we were visiting the US with the Interior Minister, we were strongly criticized at one of the meetings. This is an issue that has been worked on for many years, but on January 29 we demonstrated that we are capable of addressing the problem,” Raev added.