There is no week in which we talk about closure of a pirate IPTV service. And it is that the owners of protected content that is distributed illegally through these illicit channels are managing to hit a sector that moves millions every year very hard. Let them tell the four owners of a service of this type and who have been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in total.
Three men and one woman who were charged with fraud for offer content from platforms such as Sky or BT Sport through pirate IPTV They have just been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. In addition, assets have been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
A process that began on September 11, 2018 and in which two people were arrested for offering unauthorized television broadcasts through pirate IPTV services. Reports indicated that two people, a 41-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, had been arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and money laundering.
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A historic sentence against the distribution of pirate IPTV
Also, it was a joint operation with Europol, which announced that it had arrested four other people in Ireland and that they were related to this pirate IPTV service. Now, we begin to know the sentences made in the United Kingdom and it is clear that offering content protected by rights is becoming more and more expensive.
In this way, and through a Press releasethe county Bureau of Trading Standards, in collaboration with FACT and the National Bureau of Trading Standards have reported that On March 18, four people were sentenced for charges related to the illegal transmission of copyrighted material, such as Sky Sports and BT Sports, and the laundering of the profits from this illegal activity.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the bank accounts of the four defendants were also seized to pay the corresponding compensation (of which the amount has not been indicated)
And it is that in this UK anti-piracy operation it was found that Keiran Collins had benefited from the sum of £329,239.51, Amanda Collins had benefited from the sum of £80,000 and Robert Kurian had benefited from the sum of £21,039.06. Between all they add a prison sentence that exceeds 10 years in prison.
- Michael James Simmonds – aged 45 from Bridge Road, Bursledon, sentenced under Section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006 (Engaging in business for a fraudulent purpose) and Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Laundering of Money): 5 years 6 months of which he must serve half of the sentence in custody and the rest on probation.
- Kieran Collins – Aged 38 from Beccles Road, Great Yarmouth, sentenced under Section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006 (Participating in Business for Fraudulent Purposes) and Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Laundering of Money): 3 years in prison that must serve half of the sentence in custody and the rest on probation.
- Amanda Collins – aged 37 from Beccles Road, Great Yarmouth, sentenced under Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act 2002: 18 months in prison, suspended if 200 hours of unpaid work paid
- Robert Kurian – 46 years old from Mascalls Way, Chelmsford, sentenced under Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act 2002: 8 months suspended prison if 180 hours of unpaid work
Councilor Edward Heron, Executive Member of the Hampshire County Council for Recreation, Heritage and Rural Affairs, said: “Our trading standards officers are active in many areas, often working in collaboration with other agencies, pooling their knowledge and skills to detect and prosecute those trying to defraud Hampshire residents. This successful prosecution in collaboration with FACT has helped ensure support for legitimate digital content providers and, above all, protect consumers from downloading unregulated content.” The illegal distribution of content poses significant risks, such as children being easily exposed to explicit or age-inappropriate content, as well as people being exposed to malicious software and their data being misused. Other hazards could include electrical safety if retrofitted transmission devices do not meet important required standards.”
Without a doubt, a hard blow for this type of platform and that makes it clear that offering protected content through pirate IPTV services is becoming more and more expensive.
