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A Danish citizen has been convicted of uploading sexually explicit segments from copyrighted movies and TV series on the social media platform Reddit.

Based on a police report reviewed by media outlets, the unnamed man posted 347 video excerpts of explicit content in a Reddit group he managed, which were then watched 4.2 million-plus times.

Danish authorities state he has been given a 7-month suspended sentence for violating copyright laws.

Legal analysts explain the man was charged under a seldom-invoked provision in Denmark's copyright law, with the judge ruling that by taking the scenes out of their intended setting, the accused had damaged the artists' "ethical entitlements".

He has also been convicted of sharing more than 25 terabytes of copyrighted digital content.

From spring 2022 to May 2023, the man known as "KlammereFyr" on Reddit posted sexually explicit clips including over 100 actresses.

He distributed them in the subreddit he was a moderator of.

According to the Denmark's copyright protection organization the Rights Alliance, his online community had more than 6,000 members and participants were encouraged to ask for clips of specific performers.

In 2023, campaigners reported the incident to the authorities on behalf of the affected actors, directors and production companies, which led to the subreddit being closed down.

One actress, among the actresses whose nude scenes were circulated in the group, explained to Danish media at the period she believed there was a distinction between appearing unclothed in a film and appearing on Reddit.

The performer said the posts amounted to "abuse".

'A significant signal'

The man was arrested in fall 2024 and pleaded guilty to the allegations last month.

In a statement following the verdict, the head of the Rights Alliance the organization's leader said the decision sent an "important" message "indicating violations of creators' rights has consequences".

The ruling is viewed as unprecedented in the country for its application of the "moral rights" clause of the national copyright law, which specifies an artist's work cannot be utilized in a way which infringes upon their standing.

Copyright law expert Dr Alina Trapova informed the media the case was "rare" for its emphasis on the damage to the integrity of an performer, rather than to them economically.

The extent to which the ruling could influence other countries is uncertain.

But she added there may be "an increasing number of such cases" in the future with the growth of artificial intelligence, where "the integrity of an individual's work might be tempered with with greater ease".