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A Danish man has been convicted of uploading sexually explicit scenes from protected films and television shows on the social media site Reddit.

According to a law enforcement report reviewed by media outlets, the anonymous man shared 347 video excerpts of nude scenes in a Reddit group he managed, which were then viewed 4.2 million-plus times.

Danish police confirm he has been given a 7-month suspended sentence for violating copyright laws.

Legal analysts explain the man was prosecuted under a rarely-used clause in Denmark's intellectual property legislation, with the judge finding that by removing the scenes out of their intended setting, the accused had damaged the artists' "moral rights".

He has also been convicted of distributing more than 25 terabytes of protected digital content.

From spring 2022 to May 2023, the man using the alias "the pseudonym KlammereFyr" on Reddit uploaded sexually explicit scenes including over 100 actresses.

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

Per the Denmark's anti-piracy group the Rights Alliance, his subreddit had more than 6,000 members and users were encouraged to request clips of particular performers.

In 2023, campaigners reported the case to the police on behalf of the affected artists, directors and production companies, which resulted in the subreddit being closed down.

Andrea Vagn Jensen, among the performers whose nude scenes were shared in the community, explained to local broadcasters at the period she believed there was a difference between appearing unclothed in a movie and being shown on Reddit.

The performer said the posts constituted "abuse".

'An important message'

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

In a comment after the ruling, TRA head Maria Fredenslund said the decision sent an "significant" message "indicating violations of creators' entitlements have consequences".

The ruling is viewed as unique in the country for its use of the "ethical protections" clause of the national copyright law, which states an artist's work cannot be used in a way which violates their standing.

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

How the case could influence nations abroad is uncertain.

But she said there may be "more and more of such cases" in the coming years with the growth of AI, where "the sanctity of one's work might be tempered with with greater ease".