The US blogger accused of leaking the new Guns N' Roses album 'Chinese Democracy' onto the internet back in August has changed his plea in the criminal case against him - seemingly as part of a plea deal.
As previously reported, Kevin Cogill had pleaded not guilty to the criminal copyright infringement charges made against him after he placed tracks from the long player onto his blog, despite having reportedly previously admitted to the Feds that he did make the tracks available, albeit for a short time, via his website.
But according to Reuters, Assistant US Attorney Craig Missakian yesterday announced Cogill had changed his plea. It is thought that is part of a plea deal which will see the blogger avoid the possible jail time linked to the crime, though Missakian didn't comment on the specifics of any arrangement. Cogill is due back in court on 8 Dec, two weeks after the long awaited release of 'Chinese Democracy'.
As previously reported, although not approving of the leak, GNR have always said they are more interested in knowing who gave Coghill the pre-release tracks rather than seeing the blogger himself tried for infringement.