A milestone has been reached: justice has decided to tighten the screws on the people who are responsible for IPTV networks. A special operation was launched and goods and luxury cars were even seized!
What is IPTV, and why is it illegal in France?
IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is a method of broadcasting television content via the Internet protocol, allowing you to view channels live or on demand. Unlike traditional services like cable or satellite television, IPTV uses the internet infrastructure to broadcast programs. There are legal IPTV services, such as Molotov, Amazon Prime Video or even TV offers from ISPs (internet service providers), but there is also a much more problematic form of IPTV: that which relies on illegal networks.
These illicit IPTV networks offer subscriptions at unbeatable prices, giving access to hundreds, even thousands of channels, as well as streaming content without authorization from the rights holders. In other words, they make it possible to circumvent the paid offers of official suppliers, by distributing pirated content without paying any cent to the creators, broadcasters, and rights holders..
From a legal point of view, illegal IPTV constitutes a violation of copyright and intellectual property. According to French legislation, these practices constitute counterfeiting, punishable by fines of up to 300,000 euros and imprisonment of up to three years. (articles L335-2 to L335-4 of the Intellectual Property Code). In addition, platforms distributing pirated content, as well as users, can be prosecuted. Indeed, consuming content from illegal IPTV is equivalent to benefiting from copyright theft. The fight against this phenomenon has therefore become a priority for many European governments, including Italy, which has recently intensified its fight against those responsible for these networks.
Justice hits IPTV pirates in Italy
Recently, Italian justice carried out a resounding crackdown by dismantling a vast illegal IPTV network which had more than 500,000 subscribers. This pirate network allowed its users to access pay TV channels and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Sky or DAZN for a pittance compared to official subscription prices. Those responsible for this illicit system had set up a real clandestine enterprise, generating revenue estimated at several million euros.
The seizure of the property of those responsible by the Italian justice system marks a turning point in the fight against IPTV. This is not the first time that operations to dismantle pirate networks have taken place in Europe, but the scale of the sanctions and the confiscation of personal property are unprecedented. According to Phonandroid, authorities have seized real estate and vehicles belonging to the organizers of the pirate network, a move aimed at hitting where it hurts: the wallet. This operation highlights that pirates are no longer only exposed to criminal prosecution, but that they also risk having their assets confiscated.
According to information relayed by 20 Minutes, this network was one of the most important in Europe, with ramifications extending well beyond the Italian borders. The success of this legal operation relies largely on international cooperation and the development of technologies making it easier to spot illegal IPTV streams. This is a strong signal sent to those who would still consider embarking on this type of activity.
IPTV in decline: towards the end of pirate networks?
If illegal IPTV has long flourished due to its ability to offer varied content at an unbeatable price, it seems that this era is coming to an end. The rise of law enforcement, coupled with massive legal actions, is increasingly undermining these networks. As Presse-Citron reports, the impact of recent police operations in Italy and elsewhere in Europe has considerably weakened these networks, creating an increasingly risky environment for system administrators and their users.
At the same time, rights holders and media companies are increasing initiatives to strengthen the protection of their content. Systems for detecting illegal flows are being improved, and more severe sanctions are being put in place.
For example, in France, Hadopi, which became ARCOM in January 2022, is equipped with new means to track users of illegal IPTV services, and prosecutions against them are becoming more and more frequent.
However, despite this increased pressure, demand for IPTV services remains strong. The reasons? Legal offers considered too expensive by some consumers and an increase in subscriptions necessary to access all content (sports, series, films).
These factors explain why some continue to turn to illegal IPTV, despite the risks involved. But with repeated takedowns and increasing sanctions, we can expect pirate networks to gradually lose ground.
If illegal IPTV has experienced a meteoric rise, particularly in Europe, the justice system and the authorities seem to have taken stock of this phenomenon and are reacting in a proportionate manner. The raid in Italy marks a key step in the war against pirate networks. Time will tell whether this trend of repression will continue to increase, but one thing is certain: hackers are no longer safe, and neither are users.
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