Fresh advice has been issued to those involved in illegally streaming sport in the UK, with a pricey risk heading your way if you happen to watch the likes of the Premier League via IPTV on jailbroken Amazon Fire TV Sticks.
In the aftermath of one man being fined a whopping $30 million (£23.9 million) for selling access to illegal Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services, you might want to take note.
Often such content - which includes free or mega cheap access to thousands of live TV channels, films and shows - is viewed through a jailbroken media device such as a fire stick or Roku media player. This is where you bypass the operating system to install the IPTV apps that host the illegal content.
Well, doing this is illegal. And there are consequences.
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The Premier League is already taking the fight around the world when it comes to tackling piracy. And now another warning has been issued on the topic of illegally streaming sporting events that strengthens the reason why you should maybe just head to the pub instead if you can't afford a Sky Sports subscription.
Sports Analyst, Alex Hemming from Free Bets Ireland has opened up on the legal repercussions that await those involved in this shady side of the sporting world.
"Illegal streaming of sports is a significant legal offence under UK copyright law," Hemming said.
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"Those caught can face not only civil penalties but also criminal charges. The penalties are severe, with possible unlimited fines and imprisonment terms of up to ten years.
"The enforcement of these laws has been bolstered by the Digital Economy Act 2017, which targets both the providers and viewers of illegal streaming services. This legislation provides UK law enforcement with robust tools to aggressively pursue and prosecute those involved in digital piracy.
"UK law enforcement, including the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), is intensifying efforts to combat illegal sports streaming. These initiatives often involve collaboration with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and have led to high-profile raids and the shutdown of numerous illegal streaming operations.
"For instance, actions against IPTV services distributing unauthorised Premier League broadcasts have led to significant legal outcomes and the dismantling of complex illegal streaming networks."
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On the costs associated with being caught out for illegal streaming, Hemming described it as 'substantial'.
He said: "Courts can levy fines that, depending on the scale of the infringement, may reach tens of thousands of pounds.
"For example, individuals found distributing illegal streams have faced fines upwards of £50,000.
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"Viewers of such streams, while typically facing less severe fines, can still be penalised with fines often exceeding several thousand pounds, reflecting the severity with which the UK treats copyright infringement."
The Premier League's history of taking on piracy goes back decades, traced to the early days of peer-to-peer (P2P) software like LimeWire and BitTorrent.
One recent ruling saw them prosecute the man behind BestBuy IPTV who had to pay bills of more than $16,000, while also given a 30-month suspended prison sentence.
Topics: Crime, Football, Premier League, Sport, TV, Technology, UK News
Tom Earnshaw