“Chinese Democracy”: The Criminal Proceeding

Kevin “Skwerl” Cogill, the Antiquiet proprietor who’s been accused of violating Federal copyright law for posting nine tracks from Guns N’ Roses seriously forthcoming Chinese Democracy to his blog back in June, pleaded not guilty to the charges in Los Angeles yesterday, one day after he opined on the funny quotient of that Saturday Night Live skit with Andy Samberg playing Marky Mark. Cogill could be sentenced to three years in prison if convicted, and five if it was found that he posted the songs for what the court is calling “commercial gain”; meanwhile, the band is sticking by its “we just want to know who leaked the damn songs in the first place” story. [Reuters]