The Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN, in a collaboration with the anti-cybercrime efforts of the technology provider Irdeto, identified the operator of IPTVpremium, an illegal video service that came bundled with an illegal streaming device.
BREIN then contacted the individual who operated it, who immediately shut it down upon BREIN’s request.
Its customers received a notice from the operator, which read:
“Dear Sir/Madam, You have taken out an IPTV package from us that provides access to obviously illegal television channels, films and series. case law has confirmed that the sale of these types of IPTV packages is not permitted, and that you – the customer – are also acting in violation of the copyright law every time you use these IPTV packages. Streaming from an obviously illegal source violates the rights to television channels, films and series and is harmful to the rights holders.
“For this reason, we have been summoned by BREIN to immediately stop the sale of illegal IPTV packages and to inform you about this.”
The offender paid a penalty of 7,500 euros “per day (part) or infringement,” said the BREIN statement. The total amount paid is unknown, as the BREIN statement did not disclose the number of IPTVpremium subscribers Nor is there any indication that the subscribers to this service would be cited or penalized for copyright infringement. Its subscribers reportedly lost any money that they paid to access the illegal service.
Reflecting the warning that BRIEN prompted IPTVpremium to send to its subscribers, Bastiaan van Ramshorst, director of the BREIN Foundation, said: “Purchasing a set-top box with an illegal IPTV subscription is comparable to receiving stolen goods. Every time the user turns on the box and starts watching a movie or TV series, it commits copyright infringement and acts unlawfully.”
Note: An “IPTV Premium” app is available via Google Play, but it is unrelated to this case.
Further reading
IPTVpremium op zwart (IPTVpremium is black). Press release. July 10, 2024. BREIN Foundation
Why it matters
“(The) collaboration provided the crucial intelligence and evidence needed to halt the illegal distribution of IPTV packages,” said Mark Mulready, VP of Cyber Services for Irdeto. “This operation underscores our shared commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting the integrity of content distribution,” he said.
