Latest news with #illegalStreaming
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Brit fugitive behind £300k illegal football streaming operation is jailed for 5 years as police issue stark warning
A BRIT man who went on the run after being sentenced to five years behind bars for operating an illegal streaming service has finally be caught. And police have issued a stark warning to anyone offering the same services. 2 2 Mark Brockley, 56, pocketed £300,000 for illegally streaming football games on the cheap, including Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches. He ran aFINITY IPTV for around five years, between 2014 and 2019, with premium sport, movies and TV for as little as £15 a month. Brockley was arrested and later charged with fraud and copyright offences at Liverpool Crown Court in June 2021. After being released on police bail, he failed to appear at multiple court hearings, and sentencing proceeded in his absence in May 2023. He fled the country with his dog before being traced to an apartment block in Spain. The illegal streaming fugitive was arrested in the city of Girona during a coordinated operation involving the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), National Crime Agency (NCA), Europol, and Interpol in August 2024. Brockley was released pending further investigation having appealed his extradition back to the UK, City of London Police said. But he failed to show up at multiple court hearings in Spain and was eventually identified as wanted by Spanish authorities. Brockley was finally arrested at Barcelona Airport while attempting to board a flight to the UK on June 20. He was held in custody at Heathrow Airport and will now commence his five-year sentence. Major Illegal Streaming Network Shut Down Across Europe "This case is a clear example of how PIPCU, together with our national and international partners, will relentlessly pursue those seeking to profit from intellectual property crime," said Detective Constable Geoff Holbrook from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police. "Thanks to the joint efforts of the NCA, Europol and Interpol, Brockley has finally been brought to justice, despite his attempts to evade accountability." Warning over 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks Illegal streaming can be delivered by a number of devices by one of the most common are 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks, which means a third-party media server software has been installed on to it. The software most commonly used is called Kodi. It can grant users unrestricted access to new features and apps the normal version of the device wouldn't allow – but it is not legal to use in the UK. But it becomes illegal when a box is used to stream subscription channels for free. It is also illegal to buy or sell these modified devices which have become known as "fully-loaded" - a term that describes how the software has been altered to allow access to subscription-only channels. 'These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free to air, content,' the government said at the time. 'They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
YuppTV Initiates Lawsuit Against Major International Piracy Network 'Boss IPTV'
Leading OTT platform's anti-piracy efforts result in multiple arrests and court cases against $84 million illegal streaming operation ATLANTA, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ -- YuppTV, one of the world's leading internet-based TV platform for Indian content, has announced the filing of a lawsuit as part of its continued fight against one of the largest illegal IPTV networks worldwide. The company's comprehensive anti-piracy initiative has resulted in arrests, filing court cases on the piracy network. YuppTV has filed a comprehensive complaint in the United States District Court targeting the extensive piracy network operating under multiple brand names including Boss IPTV, Tashan Punjabi IPTV, Indian IPTV, Brampton IPTV, Boss and Guru IPTV. The illegal operations have caused substantial damage to the entertainment industry, with broadcasters losing an estimated $200-300 million annually. YuppTV's complaint to the Faridabad Cyber Crime Police led to a successful raid in March 2021, resulting in the arrest of six employees involved in illegal streaming operations. The illegal operation involved streaming thousands of premium channels without authorization, including content from major Indian broadcasters and international platforms. Uday Reddy, Founder & CEO from YuppTV, commented, "The identification and prosecution of networks like Boss IPTV will be a huge positive step for the industry in the fight against piracy. As a company that serves millions of viewers globally and has invested decades in building legitimate partnerships with content creators, we at YuppTV refuse to stand by while pirates profit from stolen intellectual property. These recent arrests and our fight against piracy send a clear message that we will pursue every available legal remedy to protect our industry, our partners, and the millions of consumers who choose to support legitimate platforms." According to the Goldstein Law Group representing YuppTV, any subscriber using illegal IPTV pirate services such as Boss IPTV, Guru IPTV, Tashan IPTV, Brampton IPTV, Vois IPTV, Indian IPTV, Punjabi IPTV, Edmonton IPTV, Boss Entertainment IPTV, or UltrastreamTV, their phone number may be linked to illegal piracy and/or copyright infringement which is a crime under the U.S. federal law. Penalties for serious copyright infringement may include felony charges which may render non-citizens deportable under the U.S. federal law. YuppTV warns customers that illegal IPTV services pose serious security risks beyond legal consequences, as pirates can access personal information including credit card details, which are then sold on the dark web. As the largest internet-based TV platform for South Asian content, YuppTV strongly urges all consumers currently using illegal streaming services to immediately discontinue their use and transition to legitimate platforms. About YuppTV YuppTV is one of the world's largest internet-based TV and On-demand service provider for South Asian content, offering more than 250+ TV channels, 5000+ movies and 100+ TV shows in 14 languages. Making the best use of technology, YuppTV enables consumers to experience the convenience of virtual home entertainment anytime, anywhere, through multiple screens. Log on to for more information. View original content: SOURCE YuppTV View original content:
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'Dodgy' Fire Stick users 'could be JAILED amid illegal streaming crackdown' - with the devices 'costing broadcasters and sports bodies billions per year'
Fans who illegally stream football matches could face prison sentences amid a piracy crackdown, reports claim. Following repeated alerts from the Premier League, there has been a major focus on tackling illegal streaming, which is said to cost more than £2billion-a-year. In particular, 'dodgy' Amazon Fire Sticks which have been modified to illegally give fans access to content from major TV channels. Police have made a concerted effort to tackle illegal streaming in recent years, with a Halifax man jailed in January for selling the devices across an 18-month period between 2020 and 2022. Sunny Kanda, 41, of Creek View, Wheatley, was accused of cheating legitimate providers out of more than £108,000. However, while the crackdown has, to this point, been focused on those who distribute the devices, new reports claim that could soon change. According to the Daily Record, fraud investigators have warned that users will also be targeted by authorities from next season, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Federation Against Copyright Theft chairman Kieron Sharp told the publication that those who use the devices could ultimately find themselves caught up in investigations. 'It is possible consumers could get swept up in our investigations,' he said. 'We did have the attitude that we would rather not criminalise the end user. 'If we take out a gang and they have a customer database, we would normally write to the consumers telling them, "What you are doing is breaking the law.' 'I would never say to consumers they will not get prosecuted because that just isn't correct.' Sky and DAZN are said to be two of multiple other companies worried about the soaring rise in the rate of TV piracy. So many people are watching these illegal streams that it is now comparable to stealing on an 'industrial scale', according to media analysts at Enders via The Financial Times. The report went on to state that a single high-profile event, such as a live football match, can draw 'tens of thousands' of viewers away from legitimate streams and towards pirated content.
CNA
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Is it illegal to hold on to your streaming set-top box?
CNA938 Rewind Play Singapore recently saw its second prosecution of someone selling illegal streaming devices here. Mr Wang Yue, the owner of Ace Technologies – a company that sold illegal streaming devices at Sim Lim Square, has been jailed six months for the charges pressed on him, and his business was fined $181,000. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with James Ow Yong, Director of Fortress Law Corporation. CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Is it illegal to hold on to your streaming set-top box? Singapore recently saw its second prosecution of someone selling illegal streaming devices here. Mr Wang Yue, the owner of Ace Technologies – a company that sold illegal streaming devices at Sim Lim Square, has been jailed six months for the charges pressed on him, and his business was fined $181,000. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with James Ow Yong, Director of Fortress Law Corporation. 27 mins CNA938 Rewind - Love our Planet - EC Environmental Film Festival 2025 In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where film fans can go to attend the Singapore Environment Council or SEC Environmental Film Festival, a three-day screening event that seeks to engage individuals and communities to become stewards of the planet. Organised by SEC in partnership with the Singapore Film Society, SEC's Executive Director Cheang Kok Chung, will highlight the chosen films: 'Savages', 'A Crack in the Mountain' and 'Future Council'. All will be screened at Golden Village Suntec City. Cheang will also reveal where proceeds from the ticket sales will go and why all movie ticket sales are eligible for tax rebates. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - Bhumi — A Bold, New & Inclusive Dance-Theatre Production In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro finds out more about an inclusive dance-theatre production, 'Bhumi', staged by Maya Dance Theatre and the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC). 'Bhumi' is performed by artists with disabilities from Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia - featuring original choreography, poetry, and music. Kavitha, Jiaying and Shahrin - the various creatives involved in 'Bhumi' - will explain why it's more than just a performance; it is a call to action, and a moving celebration of difference, courage, and connection. 29 mins CNA938 Rewind - Back to the Future: Travel back in time at ' SG Edition' In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with the founders, curators & creators of the immersive music and pop culture experience: 'Rewind, Replay, Remix: SG Edition' now happening at GastroBeats, one of Singapore's largest food and music festivals. Andrea Poh and Ng Yong Thong, co-founders of AJX Collective – a Made in SG creative incubator for immersive experiences – describe what it's like going through 'Rewind, Replay, Remix: SG Edition', comprising three zones that celebrate the songs that shaped generations of Singaporeans - from the 1950s until today, even beyond. 34 mins
CNA
30-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Jail for Sim Lim Square shop owner who sold pirate set-top boxes for EPL matches
SINGAPORE: The owner of a company that sold illegal streaming devices at Sim Lim Square was jailed for six months on Friday (May 30). Wang Yue's company, Ace Technologies, was also fined S$181,000 (US$140,000). The business operated four shop units in Sim Lim Square from 2018 to 2022. Earlier, Wang and Ace Technologies each pleaded guilty to 17 counts under the Copyright Act, with 33 more charges taken into consideration for sentencing. Illegal streaming devices are installed with programmes that facilitate unauthorised access to live television channels and video-on-demand content. Wang, 36, was the one who decided to sell pirate set-top boxes through Ace Technologies, which had nine employees. In early 2018, the business started selling such devices for between S$149 and S$249. The profit margin for each device was about S$39 to S$99. According to Wang, the company earned a monthly profit of about S$15,000 to S$18,000 from selling illegal streaming devices. The devices could access English Premier League football matches, the Discovery Channel and Disney and Warner Bros movies. Shop staff would tell customers that the devices allowed them to watch copyrighted shows without incurring the costs of watching them through legitimate sources. Wang, a Chinese national, procured the pirate set-top boxes from an overseas supplier and was the sole person responsible for doing so. In 2020, the Premier League sent letters to Ace Technologies and Wang warning them to stop selling the devices over copyright infringements. However, they persisted. On Oct 4, 2022, police conducted a raid on shops at Sim Lim Square, including Ace Technologies. More than 1,000 illegal streaming devices were seized from Ace Technologies' shops and storage unit in the mall. Wang and his company were then hauled to court. This is the second such case to come before the courts. The first prosecution for copyright infringement by a commercial dealer of illegal streaming devices took place last October. In that case, Ge Xin was jailed for 10 months and his two companies, MT Gadget+ and Grandnew, were fined a total of S$300,000 for selling illegal streaming devices. Amendments to the Copyright Act came into force in November 2021, making it illegal to sell pirate set-top boxes. Under the Copyright Act, an individual who makes, deals, imports, distributes or offers devices or services to access works without the authority of copyright owners can be jailed up to five years, fined up to S$100,000 or both.
