With the closure of T411, the legendary pirate site created in Canada in 2008, France can boast of having an important target on its hunting list. For good reason, we owe this major advance in the fight against piracy to the Rennes Research Section. Ten years of investigation were necessary to lead to these convictions.
As you may know, the story of T411, the legendary pirate site, came to an end with the historic conviction of its owner and system administrator in October 2023. A month later, thanks to a press release from the national gendarmerie behind the scenes details of this major event in the fight against illegal streaming.
Thus, we learn in particular that the French authorities played a central role in the closure of the first download site French-speaking pirate in the world. Indeed, the merits go mainly to the Rennes research sectionwho lead a ten-year investigation to bring the main actors of T411 to justice.
Also read : Illegal downloading – one of the biggest distributors of pirated series in the world disappears
Ten years of investigation to overcome T411
It all started in 2013 when the specialized interregional jurisdiction (JIRS) required the opening of an investigation against T411 following information provided by the Rennes SR. After three years of additional investigations carried out both nationally and internationally,The arrests are carried out in France, Switzerland or Sweden. It is at this precise moment that “super-moderators” as well as the main administrator of the site, Mr. Voitenk, are arrested.
The arrest of these pillars of T411 deals a fatal blow to the site, which was forced to close shop in 2017. As the gendarmerie specifies, at that time, the identity of the owner of the site is still unknown. It took several months for the authorities to find his trace in Quebec. As we mentioned in our columns in October 2023, the two strong men of T411 were sentenced to historic sentences by the Rennes judicial court: 3 years in prison and €150,000 fine for the founder18 months in prison (including 13 suspended) for the system administrator.
Concerning the conviction, the press release however tells us that Mr. Jolicoeur, the creator of the pirate site, was questioned in Canada and was never handed over to France. In other words, he was tried in absentia and unless extradited to France, the man will not serve the sentences handed down against him by the French justice system.
Source: National Gendarmerie