A seller of Illegal Streaming Devices (ISDs) in Sim Lim Square was sentenced today in relation to 34 charges selling ISDs that provided users with illegal access to copyrighted content. That content included Premier League football matches, as well as movies and TV shows belonging to Warner Bros. Discovery, and The Walt Disney Company, which are members of the MPA’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE).
This was the second case brought under section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021, which imposes criminal liability for the sale of ISDs, and was the second sentencing following Singapore Police Force raids on ISD sellers in Sim Lim Square in 2022 where police arrested 17 people and seized more than 2,500 ISDs.
Wang Yue, a 35-year-old Chinese national, Director of Ace Technologies Pte Ltd, who pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing on March 20, was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment in relation to 17 charges. His company received fines of SGD $181,000 (equiv. to about US$ 140,000) in relation to 17 charges.
Another 33 charges were taken into consideration during the sentencing of Wang and his company. The seller made as much as $18,000 per month from sales of the devices, according to reporting by the Straits Times of Singapore
This second successful prosecution strengthens the legal precedent for future enforcement actions to combat piracy in Singapore and serves as a strong reminder that selling and distributing pirated content is a serious crime.
Not the first and not the last
The first prosecution from these raids took place last October (2024) when a 37-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay fines of SGD $300,000 in what was a landmark prosecution. The Premier League and ACE have supported the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force throughout the case.
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb commented that “There are still more cases to follow from the significant raids in 2022 and we thank the Singapore Attorney-General Chambers and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force for their commitment to these investigations and prosecutions.
The result of teamwork
“We commend the Singapore Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB) of the Singapore Police Force for another successful prosecution of sellers of ISDs under Section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act,” said Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association (MPA). “ACE and the Premier League will continue working closely with local, regional and global law enforcement agencies and authorities to safeguard the integrity of entertainment content and sports, ensuring fans can access content through authorized channels.”
Further reading
Seller of illegal streaming devices sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in second Sim Lim Sqaure case. Press release. May 30, 2025. Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)
Sim Lim Square shop owner is second person jailed for selling illegal streaming devices in Singapore. Article. June 1, 2025. by Andrew Wong. The Straits Times
Why it matters
“This latest sentencing is a clear indication that the fight against piracy in Singapore is not slowing down and there are serious consequences for those found guilty of supplying illegal streaming devices. This case once again sends a message to pirates that their activity will not be tolerated and reminds consumers that buying these devices is a problem,” added the Premier League’s Plumb.
