Swedish pirates seek to buy Sealand

A group of Swedish file sharers is trying to buy the Principality of Sealand, a World War 2 observation desk off the Suffolk coast that has been occupied since the 1960s.

The Pirate Bay, which hosts one of Sweden's largest file sharing sites, is asking for contributions to buy the Principality and is offering citizenship to anyone who makes a significant contribution. 

The group was shut down by the Swedish authorities last May and moved to The Netherlands.

The Principality of Sealand consists of a concrete and steel platform six miles off the Suffolk coast that was originaly designed as a bomber spotting platform.

It was occupied in 1967 by Paddy Roy Bates, a former radio broadcaster and British Army major who styled himself H.R.H. Prince Roy, The Prince of Sealand.

The Royal Navy tried to retake the platform a year later but were driven off by the inhabitants, who seldom number more than 10.

Although not recognised by any other nation the Principality of Sealand has its own constitution, national anthem and passports.

"It should be a great place for everybody, with high-speed internet access, no copyright laws and VIP accounts to The Pirate Bay," the organisation claims on its Buysealand.com website. 

"If we do not get enough money required to buy the micro-nation of Sealand, we will try to buy another small island somewhere and claim it as our own country," the organisation says.