(UPI via NewsEdge) A Swedish file-sharing Web site is considering acquiring its own country to escape international copyright agreements.
The Pirate Bay is trying to raise enough money to purchase Sealand, a former military platform 7 miles off the coast of England, The Local reported.
Sealand's owner declared independence in 1967 and won a favorable court ruling that Britain could not claim sovereignty.
His son, Prince Michael, a title not recognized by any other nation, has put Sealand up for sale.
On a fundraising Web site, Pirate Bay offers donors citizenship of Sealand.
'It should be a great place for everybody, with high-speed Internet access, no copyright laws and VIP accounts to The Pirate Bay,' the Web site said.
Pirate Bay briefly moved to the Netherlands after being shut down by Swedish police. It has since returned to Sweden, but Swedish authorities are under pressure from the Motion Picture Association of America and similar groups, and the US government, to shut it down again.
How much Sealand would cost is unclear. Prince Michael told The Times of London that no one may be willing to put up the 504,000 pounds (almost $1 billion) valuation put on the country by a Spanish firm.
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