It was only a couple of months ago that we heard of the potential demise of a single BitTorrent tracker established exclusively for residents of Iceland. Our own Sean P. Aune shared word that the Nordic island’s MPAA-esque film industry association, known as SMAIS, had targeted Torrent.is for elimination. In late March, the case presented by SMAIS was dismissed, a decision with SMAIS pledged to appeal to the Supreme Court of Iceland.

Yet, following the appearance of the respective parties before the Supreme Court, it appears that the tracker will live on. According to Ben Jones of TorrentFreak, the tracker has prevailed against SMAIS before the nation’s premier judiciary, and has even been awarded 400,000 Icelandic kroner, atop the 500,000 kroner previously granted to its administrators in March. (400,000 kroner equate to roughly US $5,025.)

The case presented by SMAIS was evidently dismissed by Iceland’s Supreme Court on a technicality. As Jones describes in a brief case summary today, “legal formalities” are cited as reason for judgement in favor of the defendant(s). Jones further writes: “The plaintiffs in the case were found to have no legal grounds to pursue an injunction. When the prosecution team tried to switch plaintiffs in order to save the case, the Supreme Court flat out dismissed it.”

Naturally, Torrent.is is pleased with the week’s decision, while SMAIS is thoroughly disappointed, albeit not too much poorer for their fruitless efforts. And while the lights at Torrent.is are scheduled to be turned back on next Friday, May 16, the tracker’s owner, Svavar Kjarrval notes that the decision in no way deems BitTorrent sites and services operating within Iceland as legal, so it is with reserved happiness that Torrent.is relaunches for the island’s Web-connected citizens.

Recent estimates offered by Torrent.is peg the tracker as having served roughly 10% of Iceland’s population, which would amount to group of some 30,000+ users.

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