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A Danish citizen has been convicted of uploading sexually explicit segments from protected films and TV series on the social media site Reddit.

According to a police report reviewed by media outlets, the unnamed individual posted 347 video excerpts of explicit content in a Reddit group he moderated, which were then viewed 4.2 million-plus times.

Danish authorities confirm he has been given a 7-month deferred sentence for copyright infringement.

Experts explain the man was prosecuted under a seldom-invoked clause in Denmark's intellectual property legislation, with the court finding that by taking the scenes out of their intended setting, the man had damaged the artists' "ethical entitlements".

He has also been found guilty of distributing more than 25 TB of copyrighted digital content.

From spring 2022 to May 2023, the man known as "the pseudonym KlammereFyr" on Reddit posted adult clips featuring over 100 actresses.

He distributed them in the forum he was a administrator of.

Per the Danish anti-piracy group the Rights Alliance, his subreddit had more than 6,000 subscribers and users were prompted to request clips of particular actors.

In 2023, advocates filed the case to the authorities on behalf of the affected actors, directors and production companies, which led to the subreddit being shut down.

One actress, one of the performers whose explicit scenes were circulated in the community, told Danish broadcasters at the period she felt there was a distinction between appearing unclothed in a film and appearing on Reddit.

The performer said the uploads amounted to "exploitation".

'A significant signal'

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

In a statement after the verdict, TRA head the organization's leader remarked the outcome sent an "significant" message "that infringements of creators' rights have repercussions".

The verdict is considered unique in the country for its use of the "ethical protections" section of the Danish Copyright Act, which states an artist's work cannot be used in a manner which violates their reputation.

Copyright law specialist Dr Alina Trapova told the media the case was "unusual" for its emphasis on the damage to the integrity of an artist, rather than to them financially.

The extent to which the case could affect other countries is uncertain.

But she added there may be "an increasing number of such cases" in the coming years with the growth of artificial intelligence, where "the sanctity of an individual's work might be compromised much more easily".