Internet pirates get official religion in Sweden

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Sweden's Church of Kopimism, which is dedicated to online file sharing, said it has won official recognition from the government.

Isak Gerson, missionary director for the church, said it was a "huge relief" when the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency accepted the group's third application to have their activities registered as a religious faith, Swedish news agency TT reported Thursday.

Gerson said the latest application contained changes based on dialogue with the agency after the latest rejection.

"Now we will focus on performing our religious practices and to maintain good contact with our members," Gerson said.

Gerson said the church, which sprang from the Young Pirates youth movement of the Pirate Party, currently has about 3,000 members and has seen recent spikes in membership.