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A Denmark-based man has been found guilty of sharing nude segments from protected films and TV series on the online platform Reddit.

Based on a police report reviewed by media outlets, the unnamed man shared 347 clips of nude content in a Reddit group he managed, which were then viewed 4.2 million-plus times.

Danish authorities state he has been handed a seven-month suspended jail term for violating copyright laws.

Experts explain the defendant was charged under a rarely-used provision in Danish copyright law, with the judge finding that by removing the footage out of their original context, the man had damaged the performers' "moral rights".

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

From March 2022 to May 2023, the man known as "KlammereFyr" on Reddit posted sexually explicit scenes featuring over 100 actresses.

He shared them in the forum he was a moderator of.

Per the Denmark's copyright protection organization the Rights Alliance, his online community had more than 6,000 members and users were prompted to request clips of particular actors.

In last year, advocates filed the case to the police on behalf of the affected artists, filmmakers and producers, which led to the subreddit being shut down.

One actress, among the actresses whose explicit content were circulated in the group, told Danish broadcasters at the period she felt there was a distinction between appearing unclothed in a film and being shown on Reddit.

The performer stated the posts constituted "abuse".

'An important message'

The defendant was arrested in September 2024 and admitted guilty to the charges recently.

In a comment after the verdict, the head of the Rights Alliance the organization's leader remarked the outcome sent an "significant" message "that infringements of artists' rights has repercussions".

The verdict is viewed as unprecedented in Denmark for its application of the "ethical protections" section of the national copyright law, which specifies an creator's work cannot be used in a manner which infringes upon their standing.

Copyright law expert Dr Alina Trapova told the media the case was "unusual" for its focus on the harm to the dignity of an artist, rather than to them financially.

How the ruling could influence other countries is uncertain.

But she said there may be "more and more of such cases" in the future with the growth of artificial intelligence, where "the sanctity of an individual's creative output might be tempered with much more easily".