Topics: Premier League, Sky Sports
A further warning to football fans has been issued after a man was sentenced to prison for providing an illegal streaming service for Premier League games.
With the rise of IPTV services and jailbroken Amazon Fire sticks containing content, authorities have been cracking down on the illegal streaming of Premier League football.
Big moves to "disrupt and dismantle piracy operations" have been made by FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) in tandem with police services but a landmark development has emerged after a man from Lebanon was jailed having been found guilty of five charges relating to intellectual property and cybercrime offences.
The Premier League, Sky and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) joined up to lodge a complaint, which then led to the Lebanese Cyber Crime Bureau getting involved, as per The Mirror.
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The individual has been sentenced to 11 months in prison, as well as being required to pay costs of $90,000 (£69,000) in damages. Kevin Plum, Premier League general counsel, said the case and its outcome is "essential for the future health of English football and the protection of our fans".
"The outcome of this case highlights the severity with which courts across the world continue to treat all forms of piracy, and the stark consequences for those responsible for this criminality,” Plumb said in a statement.
“The case further demonstrates the Premier League’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property around the world. This is not only important to us and our broadcast partners, but it is essential for the future health of English football and the protection of our fans.
“This case perfectly shows the benefits of working alongside other rights owners. I would like to thank our co-complainants, Sky and ACE, for their trusted partnership throughout these unique and complex proceedings leading up to this conviction.
”This ruling sends a strong message that those who illegally steal our content will be pursued and can be Brought to justice, no matter where in the world they are. We thank the Premier League, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and international law enforcement, whose partnership with us in fighting piracy is critical.
“The Lebanese judicial authorities in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Lebanese Cyber Crime Bureau successfully pursued the prosecution of this individual, who has been involved in the egregious theft of content for many years.
“We will continue to take steps to shut down organised criminal networks who are intent on stealing our content and whose activities expose consumers to real risks of malware, identity theft and data loss."
Matt Hibbert, group director of anti-piracy at Sky, also weighed in over the successful case, which he believes highlights that anyone who steals content will be "brought to justice".
He commented: "This ruling sends a strong message that those who illegally steal our content will be pursued and can be brought to justice, no matter where in the world they are. We thank the Premier League, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and international law enforcement, whose partnership with us in fighting piracy is critical."
The case follows on from 29-year-old Jonathan Edge, from Liverpool, being hit with a three-year prison sentence in November following a private prosecution overseen by the Premier League.
Despite multiple warnings, he continued to sell illegal Fire Sticks through Facebook and word-of-mouth and pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act.
His own use of the device was also treated as a criminal offence.
In a two-week operation in December, FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and police targeted 30 suppliers of illegal IPTV services, visiting them in person as well as issuing cease-and-desist warnings by post.
Individuals from London, Cheshire, Kent, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and many other regions were warned about the distribution of the devices or else they face criminal prosecution.
FACT CEO Kieron Sharp said: that the cease and desist measures are "not just warnings" but act as "the first step toward holding offenders accountable".
