Early 2010, a Swedish court banned Pirate Bay co-founders Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij from operating the site. Last month, the site's former spokesperson Peter Sunde was also banned and faces a heavy fine for non-compliance. He has now appealed that decision, with his lawyer describing the court ruling as "political gagging".

In May this year the Swedish Court of Appeals confirmed an earlier ruling by the District Court which prohibited two Pirate Bay founders, Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij, from operating the site. The pair faced a 500,000 kronor ($70,000) fine for non-compliance.

Late last month, Peter Sunde – The Pirate Bay’s former spokesman – received the same treatment.

Sunde said that he was surprised by the ruling and told TorrentFreak that he found it “interesting” that the Court felt it could judge him even though he doesn’t live in Sweden and the site is located abroad. He immediately said he would appeal the decision.

An appeal has now been lodged against the ban which carries the same 500,000 kronor penalty for Peter as it does Gottfrid and Fredrik.

“His involvement with The Pirate Bay has always been limited to the political issues which emerge. A ban would constitute the same thing as a political gagging,” explains Sunde’s lawyer in documents submitted to the court.

The banning order is an interim ruling in force until the appeal of the criminal case against all four defendants in the original trial is settled in the autumn. In the meantime the site remains fully operational.