A person alleged to be behind selling access to an illegal IPTV network with hundreds of thousands of subscribers could pay more than $1 billion in damages if he’s proven guilty in a court of law.
The lawsuit has been filed over in the United States of America in what is the latest crackdown by authorities and copyright holders when it comes to illegal streaming and illegitimately selling access to content.
It comes just weeks after a landmark court ruling was passed ordering Google to ‘remotely delete’ IPTV apps from people’s phones in what is a first of its kind move in the world of content streaming.
A bill of more than $1bn. Ouch. (Getty Stock Images)
Illegal streaming has become a huge illicit industry, with billions lost in revenue every year for those who own the broadcast rights for live sporting events, films, and television shows.
IPTV, or internet protocol television, is one of the most popular ways to access the above content through illegal means.
It usually involves side-loading the IPTV app on to your phone or media device and paying a heavily discounted fee to access thousands of pieces of illegal content, whether being broadcast live – such as a Premier League match – or watching on demand.
The outcome of this is that millions of people around will not be paying the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Sky Sports to watch content that the broadcasters themselves have handed huge sums of money over to secure broadcasting rights to.
IPTV is growing in popularity (Getty Stock Images)
Now, over in the USA, DISH Network – a satellite TV and legal IPTV service – has filed a case with its subsidiary business Sling TV against CLVPN LLC, which is alleged to be a pirate IPTV service.
As a result, they are claiming up to $1.125 billion (£870.2 million) in damages from its alleged owner.
The case has been filed against Richard Alexander Moy, who is the owner of CLVPN LLC according to court documents.
Papers state that Moy, from Chicago Right, Illinois, serves as the ‘sole manager of CLVPN’ and ‘authorised, directed, and participated in the infringing activities’ of the company, which operates as City Lights Entertainment.
IPTV showing premium content for free or for a discounted fee is illegal (Getty Stock Images)
The legal case says the IPTV service had more than 450,000 subscribers, with a network of more than 500 resellers signing people up at hugely discounted subscription rates of $20 a month. Those reselling were given rates of $5 a month, it is claimed.
Documents also say that Moy pretended to be a police officer to try and legitimise the service to buyers who had concerns. It notes: “Moy held himself out as a Chicago-area law enforcement officer when selling the Service.
“Moy’s resellers were informed that he was a law enforcement officer and that message was spread in the Telegram groups, including by group moderators working for Moy.
“On information and belief, Moy used his alleged association with law enforcement to market the Service to users and resellers and mitigate potential concerns over the unlawfulness of the Service.”
It is alleged Moy portrayed himself as a police officer to gain people’s trust (public domain)
Under US law, DISH Network and Sling TV is looking to claim up to $2,500 for every violation of copyright law it has alleged.
Given there are a suspected 450,000-plus subscribers, the total bill easily passes the $1 billion mark.
Whether this would be awarded in the outcome of a guilty verdict remains to be seen. Either way, it shows just how much broadcasters are looking to get back when it comes to busting illegal streaming networks.
