Portugal trial set for men accused of large-scale newspaper piracy

Two men, including an Air Force sergeant, will face trial in Portugal for allegedly operating Telegram groups dedicated to the illegal sharing of newspapers and magazines. The groups, known at one point as ‘Visapress’, reportedly had over 10,000 members and operated for approximately nine years.

The media group Impresa, publisher of the newspaper Expresso, has filed a criminal complaint seeking €631,500 in damages. This figure is based on an estimated average annual revenue of €63.16 per subscriber multiplied by the group's membership size.

Investigations suggest the operation functioned by purchasing various publication subscriptions, funded through contributions from group members. The defendants face charges of copyright usurpation and the exploitation of usurped works, which carry potential penalties of up to three years in prison and fines. One of the suspects is a Portuguese emigrant currently residing in Switzerland.