The Pirate Bay looking to purchase Sealand but, is it a possibility?

“The goal is to raise enough money to either buy Sealand – or some other small island somewhere!”

.Sealand, the sovereign Principality founded in 1967 in international waters, six miles off the eastern shores of Britain, may just become the new home of those crazy cats over at The Pirate Bay.

What is Sealand you ask?

Well, during World War II, the United Kingdom decided to establish a number of sea-based forts along its eastern coast, the purpose of which was to defend England against German air raids. These sea forts housed enough troops to man and maintain artillery designed to shoot down German aircraft and missiles.

One of these bases, consisting of concrete and steel construction, was the famous royal fort Roughs Tower situated slightly north of the estuary region of the Thames River. In contrast to the original plan to locate the tower within the sovereign territory of England, this fortress was situated at a distance of approximately 7 nautical miles from the coast, which is more than double the then applicable 3 mile range of territorial waters. Simply put, it was located in the international waters of the North Sea.

After WWII ended, the forts were deserted and abandoned. Except for Roughs Tower, or Sealand as it would come to be known, the bases were subsequently demolished.

On 2 September 1967, former English major Paddy Roy Bates formally occupied the island and settled there with his family. Since Roughs Tower existed outside of the UK’s territorial waters and was left derelict, he was able to proclaim the island as his own state.

Then in 1968, after attempts by the British Navy to demolish Roughs Tower, a British court ruled that it had no power outside of British national territory and couldn’t force Bates and family to leave the place. Thus, was born de facto recognition of the Principality of Sealand. Since a British court ruled that it was not part of the UK, and no other country had claim to it, it was essentially declared a sovereign state.

Simple enough right?

Well, since the dream of all modern era pirates is to have a country “free of copyright laws, high speed internet access, and kickass passports,” a donation drive has begun to purchase Sealand after it was made clear recently that the country is up for sale, with donors getting automatic citizenship if the deal goes through.

From The Pirate Bay:

The price for Sealand is probably about $2.000.000.000. We don’t really care. We’re going for it anyhow! We really want to see what the community can do – with it’s own island. Since we are all for sharing the country would be shared amongst us all.

It’s been noted that the asking price is around 65 million EUROS but, in the event that donations fall short of what’s necessary, they have a Plan B: “If we do not get enough money required to buy the micronation of Sealand, we will try to buy another small island somewhere and claim it as our own country”

Who knows, maybe that island that Marlon Brando bought back during “Mutiny on the Bounty” is available. Come to think of it, what’d be more fitting than a bunch of “pirates” buying an island in the South Pacific?

“We have owned the island for 40 years now and my father is 85,” Prince Michael of Sealand was quoted as saying. “Perhaps it is time for some rejuvenation.

“Astronomical figures have been mentioned but we will just see what comes forward.”

Yet, as many are wondering, including myself, is it even possible?

In 1978 a German court ruled that Sealand was not a valid nation: “A man-made artificial platform, such as the so-called Duchy of Sealand, cannot be called either ‘a part of the earth’s surface’ or ‘land territory’ and only structures which make use of a specific piece of the earth’s surface can be recognized as State territory within the meaning of international law.” (In re Duchy of Sealand (1978) 80 ILR 683, 685 (Administrative Court of Cologne))

Then in 1990 a US Administrative Court also ruled that Sealand was not a valid sovereign nation, following evidence from James Murphy of the Department of Trade and Industry. On appeal in 1991 the decision that the state called Sealand does not exist, and has not ever existed, was upheld by a US Federal Court.

The kicker is that the Principality of Sealand can not perform acts or deeds that in any way interfere with the interests of the United Kingdom. So much for unadulterated freedom from copyright laws.

Also, technically Sealand is not for “sale” but available for “transfer” to a party who has a plan for “…future projects to continue with the operation of the Principality of Sealand,” that they basically continue on with the Bates family quest to gain state level recognition for the island. If it’s a country whose basic premise is the lack of copyright laws, it will have a tough time selling the idea that it is a legitimate country to other nations

As for running “pirate servers,” HavenCo attempted to do this back in 2000 but, changed course after it was made apparent that they would run into legal troubles vis a vis the fact that its owners and employees still had substantial ties to mainland countries that could prosecute them accordingly. Its services have thereby been limited to “e-Commerce, privacy-protected Internet services, and uncensorable free speech.”

When it comes down to it, like I said before, the current owners, or “rulers,” of Sealand have made it clear that a successful “transfer” of the country requires the interested party to have a plan in place to gain official recognition of the principality. That means it will need a legitimate source of revenue and a basic regard for the laws of other countries.

If they do succeed, hopefully they will change the current policy of a maximum 3 showers per week (click on image to the right). Things will get awfully smelly with all them pirates running around.

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