IP protection body FACT has reported that, on January 10th, Jordan Longbottom, a 42-year-old man from Manchester, received a 22-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of advertising and selling unauthorised decoders. The decoders were designed for fraudulent use, allowing users to access pay-TV services without remunerating legitimate providers, significantly undermining their commercial interests. […]

The BBC has announced three new history and science titles – D-Day: The Unheard Tapes, Human and Artemis: A Horizon Special – which aim to take viewers on eye-opening journeys across time and space. Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, commented: “The BBC is committed to bringing the very best science and history stories […]

FACT, the specialist in IP protection. has announced the appointment of Neil Whitbread as its new Investigations Manager. With a distinguished background as a former Scotland Yard Detective, Whitbread brings over two decades of expertise in specialist serious and organised crime units. His experience includes leading complex investigations and managing intelligence and critical risks across […]

The individuals behind three pirate streaming organisations, which offered illegal access to watch Premier League matches, have been jailed for a total of 30 years and 7 months. In what is understood to be the world’s largest-ever prosecution of an illegal streaming network, five people were sentenced at Chesterfield Justice Centre after being found guilty […]

Barry Stapleton and Michaela Stapleton, the Licensees of the Devonport Arms in Paignton, Devon in the southwest of England, have been found guilty, in their absence, of three offences related to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming. UK intellectual property protection organisation FACT brought the criminal prosecution against the Licensees at Plymouth Magistrates Court, […]

UK intellectual property protection organisation FACT has recognised police and Trading Standards for outstanding contributions towards combatting intellectual property crime. FACT’s Excellence Awards acknowledge the exceptional efforts of police and other law enforcement individuals across the UK for their support in the fight against piracy. An awards ceremony in the city of Birmingham, honoured a […]

Action is being taken across Ireland to crack down on illegal streaming. Legal warnings are being delivered in person, by post, and by email to individuals across the country involved in providing illegal access to premium TV content, including from Sky and the Premier League. The cease-and-desist notices instruct those running the services to immediately […]

Clinton Hartland, licensee of The Watering Trough pub in Walsall, West Midlands has been found guilty in his absence of two offences of dishonest reception of a television transmission. In this case, Hartland televised Sky Sports football matches, with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Sky Sports is only available […]

Throughout January 2023, UK intellectual property protection organisation FACT and police are visiting homes across the UK, serving notices to individuals to cease illegal streaming activities with immediate effect and informing users of the associated risks, which include criminal prosecution. Over 1,000 individuals have been identified following raids by West Mercia Police in the UK […]

Research from UK intellectual property protection organisation FACT has revealed that TV and film entertainment sits at the heart of many Brits’ Christmases, with 54 per cent relying on it to keep the family entertained. While this comes as no surprise, the research also shows that almost a quarter (23 per cent) of consumers will […]