File-sharing mastermind Kane Robinson released 11 months into jail sentence

North Shields file-sharing mastermind Kane Robinson released 11 months into jail sentence

The mastermind behind a file-sharing website that cost the entertainment industry millions of pounds has been released from jail. Kane Robinson was jailed for 32 months in November 2014 after sharing more than 250,000 tracks by the likes of Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Jay-Z and Kanye West online, allowing 70 million users to help themselves to free music.
It is believed the website, dancingjesus.com, could have cost the music industry up to £242m.
But this week Robinson walked free after serving just less than a year behind bars.
The 27-year-old of Wyndham Way, North Shields, served time in HMP Durham, HMP Northumberland and HMP Kirklevington while his friends set up an appeal in a bid to help fund a legal appeal against the sentence.
What little money Robinson made from the illegal enterprise, which he ran from 2006 until 2011, was spent on the upkeep of the website and his main motivation was the “kudos” of releasing music first.
From his home in North Shields he uploaded tracks from worldwide stars on his website, dancingjesus.com, for others to access for free, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The British Phonographic Industry said the site welcomed more than 70 million user visits during its life span.
If just 50% resulted in a single track download, music valued at over £35m would have been obtained. If 50% of user visits resulted in an album download, that figure rises to £242m.
And after admitting two offences under the copyright act, Robinson was jailed last year.
The group behind his initial appeal for justice said Robinson had asked them not to speak about his release but, they confirmed he had been released early.
The Ministry of Justice said it did not comment on individual cases.

Mr Robinson did not respond when contacted for a comment.

Source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/...rmind-10363684