Carl Lundström
Carl Lundström | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Carl Ulf Sture Lundström 13 April 1960 Filipstad, Sweden |
| Died | 10 March 2025 (aged 64) Velika Planina, Slovenia |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Rix Telecom Defendant in The Pirate Bay trial |
Carl Ulf Sture Lundström (13 April 1960 – 10 March 2025) was a Swedish businessman and political activist.
Early life and career
Carl Lundström was the son of Ulf Lundström and the grandson of Karl Edvard Lundström, founder of the world's largest crisp bread producer Wasabröd. When his father died in 1973, Carl was one of five heirs to Wasabröd. In 1982, Wasabröd was sold to the Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz. Lundström founded and financed a number of companies, notably Swedish telecom, internet and co-location provider Rix Telecom.
The Pirate Bay trial
Between 2003 and 2005, Lundström's company Rix Telecom provided services and equipment to torrent tracker The Pirate Bay. Lundström was one of the four defendants in The Pirate Bay trial, charged with "accessory to breaching copyright law". On 17 April 2009, the Stockholm district court found all defendants guilty and sentenced them to one year in prison and to jointly pay 30 million SEK (app. €2.7 million or US$3.5 million) in damages. The verdict was appealed.[1][2][3][4][5] The appeal was partially successful, as his sentence was reduced to four months, but the fine was increased to 32 million SEK.[6] Lundström served his prison sentence.[7]
Political activism
Lundström was involved with various far-right political organisations in Sweden.[8] In the 1980s, he was a member of Bevara Sverige Svenskt.[9] In 1991, Lundström financed the Progress Party, which later merged with the Sweden Democrats, and in 2001, the National Democrats publicized having received a donation of SEK 5 000 from Lundström.
In 2005, Lundström took part in an oppositional group within the Swedish Taxpayers' Association, protesting the association's passive stance on the issue of costs for immigration. Lundström stood as a candidate for Alternative for Sweden in the 2021 Swedish Church Assembly elections.[10]
Death
Lundström died on 10 March 2025 when the plane he was piloting crashed into a hut in Velika Planina, Slovenia. He was 64. Lundström was the only person on board, en route from Zagreb to St. Gallen-Altenrhein.[10][11]
References
- ^ Schmidt, Lars (19 February 2009). "The story about Carl Lundström and The Pirate Bay". Svenska Dagbladet. Shibsted. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ Ricknäs, Mikael (21 April 2009). "Pirate Bay Case on Its Way to the Court of Appeal". PC World. IDG. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ Olsson, Tobias; Baltscheffsky, Susanna (17 April 2009). "Pirate Bay-domen redan överklagad". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ Stiernstedt, Jenny; Johansson, Astrid E; Söderling, Fredrik; Grassman, Oliver (17 April 2009). "The Pirate Bay sentenced to one year in prison". Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ Rengfors, Kristoffer (17 April 2009). "Lundström får betala rekordskadeståndet". Metro (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ Kobie, Nicole (26 November 2010). "Pirate Bay trio lose appeal against jail sentences". pcpro.co.uk. PCPRO. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ Stiernstedt, Jenny (27 July 2012). "Två dömda i Pirate Bay-målet efterlysta". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ Orlowski, Andrew (26 February 2009). "Pirate Bay's neo-Nazi sugar daddy". The Register. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- ^ Poohl, Daniel (22 February 2008). "Gripen nazist drev företag med Carl Lundström". Expo (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b Holm, Gusten; Syrén, Michael; Baas, David (11 March 2025). "Carl Lundström död i flygkrasch". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ C, G. "Žrtev letalske nesreče na Veliki planini je bil nekdanji švedski politik Carl Lundström" [Former Swedish politician Carl Lundström was the casualty of the plane accident on Velika planina] (in Slovenian). Radiotelevizija Slovenija. Retrieved 11 March 2025.