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A Denmark-based man has been convicted of sharing nude segments from copyrighted movies and television shows on the online platform Reddit.

Based on a police report reviewed by BBC News, the unnamed individual shared 347 video excerpts of nude content in a Reddit group he moderated, which were then watched 4.2 million-plus times.

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

Experts explain the defendant was charged under a seldom-invoked provision in Denmark's copyright law, with the court ruling that by taking the scenes out of their intended setting, the man had damaged the artists' "moral rights".

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

From spring 2022 to May 2023, the user known as "KlammereFyr" on Reddit uploaded adult clips including over 100 actresses.

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

According to the Denmark's copyright protection group The Rights Alliance (TRA), his online community had more than 6,000 members and participants were encouraged to request clips of specific performers.

In 2023, campaigners filed the case to the authorities on behalf of the affected artists, filmmakers and producers, which led to the subreddit being shut down.

One actress, among the performers whose explicit scenes were shared in the community, explained to local broadcasters at the time she felt there was a distinction between appearing unclothed in a movie and appearing on Reddit.

The actress stated the uploads constituted "abuse".

'An important signal'

The man was detained in September 2024 and pleaded guilty to the charges last month.

In a statement after the ruling, TRA head Maria Fredenslund said the decision sent an "significant" signal "that infringements of creators' entitlements has consequences".

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

Intellectual property expert Dr Alina Trapova informed BBC News the legal matter was "rare" for its focus on the harm to the integrity of an performer, rather than to them financially.

The extent to which the case could affect nations abroad is uncertain.

But she added there may be "more and more of such cases" in the future with the advancement of artificial intelligence, where "the sanctity of one's creative output might be compromised much more easily".