When it comes to IPTV, we are now well accustomed to police raids carried out against pirate networks which market these services. But another unusual affair has just taken place. This time it involves a bar owner who illegally broadcast meetings to his customers.
An emblematic affair
It is in the city of Sunderland, particularly known for its local football club, that this is happening. On October 15, a pub manager was found guilty of two offenses linked to the broadcast of television programs from the Sky channel which broadcasts the Premier League. He was not paying the required subscription fees.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) commenced proceedings at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court which decided to fine him and pay costs totaling £7,400, or approximately €8,900.
Following the decision, Sara Stewart, head of compliance (anti-commercial piracy) at Sky Business, warned: “Now more than ever, it is important to protect our customers’ investments. Companies that illegally broadcast Sky Sports can leave our legitimate Sky subscribers feeling shortchanged.”
She adds: “We actively visit thousands of venues every season to monitor the matches they are showing to protect Sky’s hard-working customers who are unfairly losing business to this illegal activity.”
This story involving a bar owner is quite new, but may also seem logical. In fact, these managers are tempted to turn to illegal offers, because they are asked for subscription prices that are much higher than other subscribers.
The dangers of hacking
Generally speaking, piracy remains a dangerous practice for users. As Jenny Radcliffe, a now-repentant British hacker, previously explained:
The perception that illegal streaming is a victimless crime is completely inaccurate. The sites that host these services are full of malicious links, backdoors, and tricks to access people’s digital and financial information, providing professional criminals with an open invitation to steal from anyone who engages in these activities.
She specified: “Whether it’s multiple credit card charges, installing malware on devices, accessing bank accounts, or stealing personal information like emails, messages, contacts, photographs, documents and browsing history, illegal streaming makes you a prime target for professional fraudsters.”
To find out more, do not hesitate to reread our dedicated article here.
