Genline Holding AB has entered into an agreement regarding the sale of all its shares in its subsidiary Genline AB to Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com is the world’s largest online family history resource and listed on NASDAQ in New York. Genline Holding AB is listed on Aktietorget. The transaction is conditional on the approval by the seller’s shareholders’ meeting.

Genline is the leading Swedish Internet based genealogical research company with more than 17,000 paying subscribers with access to 26 million digitalized pages of records from the 17th century until the 1930s.

Ancestry.com has more than 1,2 million subscribers. Its network of sites contains and hosts over 5 billion historical records and 17 million family trees containing 1,7 billion profiles.

Danowsky & Partners has assisted Genline Holding AB in the trans- action. Johan Lidbeck has been the responsible partner primarily assisted by Mattias Pettersson and Alexandra Persson. Esa Kymäläinen has been responsible for IP and technology matters.

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On May 21, Svea Court of Appeal issued an injunction against Black Internet AB and two of the founders of The Pirate Bay website.

The action was brought jointly by several record companies with the purpose to have the court prohibit further facilitating of copyright infringement through the Pirate Bay website.

Svea Court of Appeal concluded in its decision that it was probable cause that the defendants had contributed to infringement in the way stated by the record companies. Therefore the court settled the agreement made by the Stockholm District Court.

The injunctions means that Black Internet is prohibited to provide Internet connection to the Pirate Bay website. The founders are pro- hibited to operate the website. The injunctions are subjects to fixed penalty of SEK 500 000 for any violation.

Peter Danowsky and Nicolina Bacirtzis represented the record companies in the matter.

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Peter Danowsky was elected new chairman of ADBJ – the Swedish Association for IT and Law - on its annual meeting on April 15, 2010. The other board members are Anna Ribenfors, Staffan Malmgren, Markus Pettersson, Fredrik Sand, Christina Wainikka, Stanley Greenstein and John Bålman.

ADBJ was formed in 1981 and is a private and independent non-profit association. The purpose of ADJB is to provide members with information, training and opportunities to network and exchange experiences. An important part of ADBJs` activities are the seminars which are held for both members and others. The seminars address topics like IT-contracts, intellectual property, privacy, computer-related crime.

ADBJ also encourage the public debate regarding legal issues related to information technology. Both individuals and organisations can be members of ADBJ.

ADBJ also encourage the public debate regarding legal issues related to information technology. Both individuals and organisations can be members of ADBJ.

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Since March 2010 Danowsky & Partners cooperates with Amnesty Inter- national, the Swedish Section, by providing legal advice to Amnesty on a pro bono basis.

The protection of basic human rights is an essential cornerstone for the legal profession. We are, therefore, happy to be able to contribute to the important work carried out by Amnesty.

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On February 4, a jury in Malmö District Court acquitted the newspaper Sydsvenskan and its Editor in Chief from charges of grave libel and libel. The case was brought by an individual who initially had been arrested and put in custody in September of 2003 on the suspicion of murdering the Swedish Foreign Minister, Anna Lindh.

In connection with the arrest, the newspapers had reported about the individual and the suspicions against him. The police and prosecutors subsequently dropped all charges against the man and a court later sentenced another person for the murder.

The man that was initially arrested brought legal actions against the newspaper and its Editor in Chief. He asked that the editor should be declared guilty of grave libel. He also claimed damages of SEK 250,000.

After hearing the trial, the jury declared that no part of the publicity constituted grave libel or libel. The newspaper and its Editor in Chief will be acquitted on all charges.

Ulf Isaksson and Nicolina Bacirtzis represented Sydsvenskan and the Editor in Chief in the trial.

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On January 25 the Swedish Supreme Court granted a review permit sought by five book publishers in a case in which the publishers have requested that an internet service provider is ordered to disclose infor- mation regarding the holder of a certain IP address. The disclosure request is the first such request brought under the new IPRED rules.

The question in the case is whether the publishers have shown probable cause that someone has infringed upon their exclusive rights to certain audio books. Under the IPRED rules, such probable cause is needed for courts to issue an order to disclose information relating to an IP address.

The publishers` request was initially granted by the District Court but later rejected on appeal. The Court of Appeal held, in split decision decided by the casting vote of the chairman, that probable cause had not been shown. Now, the question will be tried and finally determined by the Supreme Court.

Peter Danowsky and Nicolina Bacirtzis are representing the five publishers in the case.

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Danowsky & Partners has recruited Karl Hägg. Karl recently completed his law degree at Uppsala University and started as a trainee on January 25.

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On January 16 Medstop opened the first private pharmacy in Sweden after the recent deregulation of the Swedish pharmacy market. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Göran Hägglund. Medstop will acquire 62 pharmacies from the governments` previous monopoly.

In connection with the formation of the Medstop chain, the founders of the Swiss company Medstop AG has transferred Medstop AG to Medstop Holding AB. Medstop Holding AB is controlled by the private equity firm Segulah. The acquiring company will take on the Medstop brand and the founders of Medstop AG will become minority shareholders in the Swedish company.

Danowsky & Partners has assisted the founders with Johan Lidbeck as the responsible partner.

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Stockholm Open AB - which is owned jointly by two of the leading lawn tennis clubs in Stockholm and the Stockholm Lawn Tennis Association - has entered into an agreement with IEC in Sports AB regarding the future management of the Stockholm Open ATP World Tour event. IEC is a part of the French Lagardère Group. Stockholm Open was first played in 1969 and is the oldest indoor tournament on the ATP World Tour. Danowsky & Partners has assisted Stockholm Open AB with Johan Lidbeck as the responsible partner.

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On January 14 The Court of Justice of the European Union listened to Otto Sjöbergs pleading that the Swedish Lottery Act violates EU requirements. The background to the case is the prosecution in Sweden against Sjöberg that he in his capacity as editor-in-chief for Expressen, allowed Ladbrokes and other gaming companies to advertise in the newspaper.

Sjöberg argued before the court that the case is regarding the newspaper business and not the national lottery monopoly. He also pointed out that the effectiveness of the prohibition of which the indictment is based on, is low, since several million Swedish households can see similar ads via TV3 and Kanal 5.

The Advocates Generals` ruling is expected on February 23. Ulf Isaksson represented Sjöberg in the plea.

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The District Court of Stockholm has, in a ruling on December 18, acquitted the Editor in Chief of Svensk Bokhandel, and the company that published the magazine on all counts in a defamation action brought by a literary agent.

The case, which has been widely reported in the media, relates to a column by the Editor in Chief which was published on the magazines` web site in November 2007. The agent claimed that certain passages in the column amounted to grave libel. The agent directed his claims against the Editor in Chief and the publishing company and he also asked the court to award him SEK 150,000 in damages.

After the three day trial, the jury acquitted the Editor in Chief and the company on all counts.

Ulf Isaksson and Mattias Pettersson represented the Editor in Chief and the company at the trial.

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Jenny Nilsson has joined Danowsky & Partners as an associate from December 1. Jenny has a law degree from the University of Uppsala and has earlier been an in-house counsel with the Swedish Writers’ Union.

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Stockholm District Court has in a ruling on December 2 ordered a Danish company to cease its marketing and sales of a certain coat. The ban was requested by Jofama, which is one of Sweden’s oldest and largest leather companies.

Jofama had in 2002 and 2003 designed and started marketing a coat, which became one of its best selling garments. In 2005 Jofama discovered that a Danish company sold an almost identical coat. Jofama objected against the infringement and initiated legal action.

The District Court concluded in its ruling that Jofamas` coat is a work of applied art under the Swedish Copyright Act. The court also found that the Danish coat was very similar to Jofamas` coat. Therefore, the court held that the Danish company was guilty of copyright infringement and was ordered, under a fixed penalty, to discontinue its sales of the product.

Ulf Isaksson and Alexandra Persson represented Jofama in the case.

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Bro Hof Slott AB has entered into an agreement with the Swedish Golf Federation under which Bro Hof Slott AB will acquire a majority stake in the company that will operate the Scandinavian Masters. Scandinavian Masters is the only PGA European Tour event in Scandinavia.

Bro Hof Slott AB will hold 80 per cent of the new company and the Swedish Golf Federation will hold the remaining 20 per cent. The event, which from 2010 will be named Nordea Scandinavian Masters, will be played annually at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club outside Stockholm.

Danowsky & Partners has assisted Bro Hof Slott AB in the negotiations with Mårten Lundmark as responsible partner.

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The Swedish Supreme Court has in a ruling of October 22 resolved that the public courts of Sweden have jurisdiction to try cases regarding illegal state aid.

In the case, Nya Destination Stockholm Hotell & Teaterpaket AB (”Nya Destination Stockholm”) had filed suit in the District Court of Stockholm against the City of Stockholm and a company owned by the City asking that the defendants were prohibited from giving further support to another company owned by the City until the competent EU authority had approved of such payments. Nya Destination Stockholm claimed that the payments violated Article 88.3 of the EU Treaty and also distorted competition in violation of Article 87.1.

The City and the City owned company asked that the case be dismissed on the basis that the public courts did not have jurisdiction to try such matters. The City appealed to the Supreme Court after both the District Court and the Court of Appeal had ruled against the dismissal. The Supreme Court agreed to try the forum issue.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court concluded that the public courts generally are competent to try cases regarding monetary claims and petitions for injunctions to prevent further losses. The Supreme Court held that Nya Destination Stockholms` claim was intended to prevent the company from suffering further losses through payments in violation of Article 88.3 of the EU Treaty. As the court concluded that no specific rule existed that stipulated that any specific agency or court had jurisdiction in such matters, it was held that it is for the public courts to try such cases.

Ulf Isaksson and Esa Kymäläinen are representing Nya Destination Stockholm.

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2Entertain AB (publ), one of the largest entertainment production companies in the Nordic region, has made an agreement with the owners of Wallmans Nöjen AB to acquire all shares of Wallmans Nöjen AB. Wallmans, with a turnover of over 380 msek, is one of Swedens` leading companies within showbiz with operations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

The combined company will reach an annual turnover of over 800 msek. The merger, which is subject to approval by the shareholders` meeting in 2Entertain, is estimated to be completed by October 31, 2009. 2Entertain is listed on OMX First North.

Danowsky & Partners advises the founder and main owner of Wallmans in the transaction. The team includes Johan Lidbeck, Ann Nilsson, Alexandra Persson and Maria Ståhl.

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The National Gaming Board for Sweden issued an order in accordance with Section 38 and 52 of the Swedish Lotteries Act against Expressen, a leading Swedish newspaper, prohibiting the newspaper from publishing advertisements from foreign gaming companies and from publishing such companies` odds in its editorial sections. The order was combined with a fixed penalty.

Expressen appealed the two orders with the regional Administrative Court, which confirmed the orders, and then with the Administrative Court of Appeal which overturned both orders. The Gaming Board appealed and filed a request that the Supreme Administrative Court granted leave to appeal in both cases. Leave to appeal is granted only if the court believes that the case may be of importance as a precedent.

On 25 August the court granted leave to appeal. The issue before the court is whether the Gaming Board`s prohibition orders are in compliance with the Swedish Freedom of Press Act`s restrictions against censorship.

Ulf Isaksson represents Expressen in both cases.

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On August 8, a major outdoor exhibition was opened regarding Swedens` National Parks. The exhibition is held at Raul Wallenbergs Torg in Stockholm.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the formation of the first Swedish National Parks, which were also the first to be established in Europe. The formation of the parks started a long tradition of nature conservation in Sweden. Today, there are a total of 28 national parks in Sweden.

The photographer and writer Claes Grundsten has, during a period of several years, travelled to all Swedish national parks.

The exhibition, which is part of the Stockholm Cultural Festival, will be open until September 13. Danowsky & Partners sponsors the exhibition.

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On June 25, the District Court of Solna issued its ruling in the first application in Sweden for an information order according to the new rules following the implementation of the IPRED-directive.

In the case, five book publishers requested that the court ordered an internet service provider to disclose information regarding the holder of a certain IP-address. The publishers claimed that 27 recorded books had illegally been made available on a publicly accessible server.

In its ruling, the court approved the publishers` request and ordered the internet service provider, subject to a fine of SEK 750,000, to hand over the requested information.

Peter Danowsky and Olof Roos represented the five publishers.

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A new employers association has been created through the merger between Tidningsutgivarna (the Swedish Newspapers Publishers` Association) and Medie- och Informationsarbetsgivarna (the Media- and Information Employers` Association). The new organisation will be named Mediaföretagen and will cover the media and information industries, which includes newspapers, advertising agencies, public service, film companies, public relations companies, and new media. The new organisation will be a part of ALMEGA, which is Sweden`s largest federation of employers for the service sector. Medieföretagen will have 354 member companies with about 45,000 employees. One part of Tidningsutgivarna will remain as a strict trade organisation.

Danowsky & Partners has had a joint instruction from both merging entities to hand the legal aspects of the project. Peter Danowsky has been responsible partner with Mårten Lundmark assisting in labour related matters and Jessica Östberg in organisational matters.

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On May 11, Girjas Sami Community submitted an application for summons to Gällivare District Court. The Swedish State is the defendant of the case, which concerns the Sami Community’s hunting- and fishing right on state governed property, situated in the high mountains above the limit of cultivation. The Sami Community wants the court to determine that its hunting- and fishing right belongs solely to the Community and is not shared with the state. Also, the Community wants the right to dispose of its hunting- and fishing right on the land in question. On behalf of the National Swedish Sami Association (SSR), Peter Danowsky and Nicolina Bacirtzis have executed an inquiry as regards the possibilities to initiate proceedings against the state and are now representing Girjas Sami Community in the court procedure in the District Court of Gällivare.

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In this years\' edition of Best of the Best from Expert Guides, Peter Danowsky has again been ranked as one of the world’s 25 leading lawyers in media law. In total, 584 lawyers from around the world were ranked in 19 different categories. From Sweden, 15 lawyers were selected and Peter Danowsky was the only one from a smaller independent law firm.

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The Svea Court of Appeal affirmed a ruling on April 30 from the District Court in a case were a plaintiff claimed damages from the municipality of Gotland. The plaintiff argued that the municipality breached the Act on the Protection of Trade Secrets when it allegedly without authorization used plaintiff’s business idea to create a local TV station. He also claimed that the municipality should be liable for being negligent in the negotiations. The District Court, which ruling was affirmed, held that the information in question could not be considered as trade secrets in the meaning of the law. The District Court also stated that the parties had not engaged in such negotiations that could lead to possible liability for negligence. Therefore the claim was dismissed. Peter Danowsky acted as counsel to the municipality of Gotland.

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Danowsky & Partners has recruited Shirin Saif. Shirin completed her studies at Uppsala University during the spring and started as a trainee on April 20.

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Stockholm City Court has on April 17 issued its ruling in the internationally publicised trial against the four men behind The Pirate Bay website. The Court found the men liable for assisting in violations of the Swedish Copyright Act and sentenced each of them to one year’s imprisonment. They were also ordered to pay damages in the amount of SEK 30 million to the concerned recording- and film companies. Peter Danowsky and Olof Roos acted as counsel to IFPI on behalf of the recording companies.

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Danowsky & Partners has assisted the owner and founder of Svea Leasing AB in connection with a management buy out. Svea Leasing is an automotive leasing company independent from banks and auto companies with offices in Stockholm, Helsingborg and Malmö. Mårten Lundmark was the responsible partner.

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