Greece intensifies its fight against the distribution of illegal IPTV with severe sentences. A Greek reseller has been heavily sanctioned by the courts for offering illegal IPTV boxes and subscriptions. The Hellenic justice system does not stop there and is now directly hitting end users of these fraudulent services.
Exemplary sentences to deter illegal IPTV resellers
On September 25, 2024, the Thessaloniki court handed down a historic sentence in the fight against illegal IPTV. A local entrepreneur was sentenced to eight years in prison and a €17,000 fine after being found guilty of marketing and distributing illegal IPTV boxes and subscriptions. In addition to this conviction, the equipment used to commit this crime was confiscated.
According to the Greek media Skai, the convicted person was involved in a large-scale pyramidal criminal organization. The investigation revealed that this network had generated millions of euros in profits thanks to these illegal activities. This court decision sets a significant precedent in Greece, where penalties for such offenses had never reached this level of severity.
Towards increased repression of end users
This judgment is not limited to resellers alone. The Greek authorities have used subscriber data to identify and prosecute customers of these illegal IPTV services as well. Several arrests had already taken place even before the trial of the main reseller was closed. Although the concrete forms of these sanctions remain unclear, everything indicates that the Greek justice system does not intend to relax its efforts.
This trend shows a clear desire to hit the entire value chain of illegal IPTV, from the distributor to the end consumer. By prosecuting users, the public authorities hope to reduce demand for this fraudulent content and thus curb the black market.
International measures against illegal IPTV
Greece is not alone in this crusade against illegal IPTV broadcasting networks. Other European countries, such as Italy and Sweden, have also taken vigorous measures. In Italy, the time between reporting and cutting off pirated streams has been drastically reduced, allowing an almost instantaneous reaction from Internet service providers.
In Sweden, the emphasis is on tax aspects, in particular VAT fraud linked to the sale of these illegal services. In Germany, Spain, Austria and the United Kingdom, legal proceedings against illegal IPTV distributors are often spectacular and publicized, potentially dissuading players tempted by this illicit trade.
A considerable economic impact
The illegal IPTV market represents a colossal loss of revenue for the entire audiovisual industry. Television channels, film studios and sports organizations lose billions of euros each year due to the unauthorized redistribution of their content. By tackling all levels of this underground economy, governments hope to recover some of this revenue and reestablish a fair competitive framework.
The Thessaloniki case clearly shows how international cooperation can eradicate or at least greatly limit the phenomenon of illegal IPTV. Coordinated actions across jurisdictions allow for more rigorous enforcement and effective information sharing, making it harder for offenders to take action.
It’s important to remember that the technologies used to broadcast and consume IPTV are evolving rapidly. This poses an additional challenge for authorities, who are forced to constantly adjust their methods of prosecution and regulation. New circumvention methods, such as the use of VPNs or decentralized servers, further complicate the task of regulators.
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