FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and partners have carried out a major enforcement operation against Irish retail outlets enabling access to illegal TV streaming services, sending a strong warning to those breaking the law and putting consumers at risk. In this latest action, FACT teams, working alongside Sky, delivered legal notices to 15 shops and […]
A man who pocketed £1 million (€1.15m) by running three illegal streaming websites has been jailed. Stephen Woodward sold illegal access to copyrighted content through the websites IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting and Black and White TV. He used the funds to buy designer clothes and jewellery, holidays and a Jaguar F-Type V8 coupe worth £91,000. His […]
On March 27th, the licensee of the Premiere Bar and Grill in Plymouth, Devon, was found guilty of three charges related to the illegal broadcast of Sky televised programming. In this case, Vahid Babolhavaeji televised Sky Sports football matches with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Babolhavaeji, the designated premises […]
A man from Halifax in the North of England who sold modified TV fire sticks that infringed copyright laws has been sentenced to two years behind bars at York Crown Court. Sunny Kumar Kanda sold TV fire sticks – which are media streaming devices that let users stream videos, play music and install apps on […]
Elspeth Lerwell, the Licensee, and Richard Hole, the Sole Director of the Fairfield Social Club in Swansea, Wales, have been found guilty in their absence of four offences related to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming. In this case, both Lerwell and Hole televised football matches with the intent to avoid payment of the […]
UK IP protection body FACT, in collaboration with police services, is intensifying efforts to disrupt and dismantle piracy operations across the country by targeting suppliers who are selling unauthorised access to premium content, including film, television and live sports. In a two-week enforcement operation, FACT and police targeted 30 suppliers of illegal streaming services. These […]
At a time when digital content creators have become a major source of information for people, a UNESCO survey reveals that 62 per cent do not carry out rigorous and systematic fact-checking of information prior to sharing it. But 73 per cent express the wish to be trained to do so. UNESCO is launching the […]
Kenneth Craigs, the Licensee of Cleo’s Bar in Sunderland, North East England, has been found guilty in his absence of two offences related to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming. In this case, Craigs televised Sky Sports football matches, with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Sky Sports is […]
A man and woman from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland have been sentenced for offences in relation to supplying illegal subscriptions for streaming services that involved more than £700,000 (€836,000). Cormac McGuckin and Maura McGuckin, both from Bellaghy, were sentenced at Omagh Crown Court. The sentencing follows an investigation in relation to the sale of illegal subscriptions […]
Copyright protection body FACT and Crimestoppers have teamed up to launch a new campaign across Ireland, encouraging the public to share information about illegal streaming activities in their communities. Running over six weeks on Facebook and Instagram, the campaign aims to gather intelligence on individuals or groups involved in advertising or selling illegal streaming subscriptions, […]