The UK authorities have issued a stark warning to sellers of so-called "doddy Fire TV Sticks" with those offering them to UK consumers being told they risk "prosecution and a conviction." This latest alert comes after one provider of modified Fire devices has just been handed a two-year suspended sentence.
Kevin James O'Donnell, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to charges of promoting and selling illegally modified firesticks that offered unauthorised access to premium film and television content, including live football matches. It's thought that around 3,600 people purchased the devices via Facebook and WhatsApp with them then paying a small fee of between £40 - £80 to gain access to platforms such as Sky and TNT Sports.
With the cost of living crisis hurting wallets, more and more people are looking for ways to stream premium content at a cheaper price but sellers of modified Fire TV Sticks are being watched. With sellers like O'Donnell being targeted, thousands are now being stopped from watching without going through official channels.
Speaking about the latest conviction Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: "We are immensely grateful for the diligent work carried out by Merseyside Police Cyber Crime Unit. Their collaboration with FACT has been instrumental in holding O’Donnell accountable for his actions. This case highlights the importance of protecting legitimate providers as well as the significant impact that coordinated law enforcement efforts can have on combating digital piracy.
The message is very clear: if you sell a device that provides access to content that is not licensed to you or owned by you, you could face criminal investigation, prosecution and a conviction."
Premier League odds and betting tips
And Detective Inspector Steve Frame added: "We have been working closely with FACT to ensure that O’Donnell is made to answer for his actions, and this was a great example of how police and industry experts can come together to tackle this type of criminality. Illegal streaming is far from a victimless crime, and as well as the impact it has on businesses and content creators, it essentially means that legitimate subscribers pay for those who illegally access such services."
FACT says that this prosecution is the latest in a crackdown on modified Firestick piracy. In March, FACT in conjunction with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Premier League targeted a further 11 individuals across the UK selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches via modified or ‘fully loaded’ smart TV devices or sticks. One person was arrested, and 10 others were interviewed under caution.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
