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6th December 2024
04:36pm GMT
A warning has been issued to those using 'dodgy' Firesticks to stream Premier League games amid a fresh crackdown on the illegal practice.
With the increasing price of watching football on TV and in stadium, many fans have turned to cheaper, illicit methods of getting their football fix.
These illegal means are often cheaper than the official broadcasters and also offer a way to circumvent the 3pm blackout rule.
However, a new warning has been issued by The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) to those using these rule-breaking methods "risk facing serious consequences," following a massive crackdown across the whole of the UK.
The raids saw more than 30 suppliers of pre-loaded Fire TV Sticks were targeted, with more searches to follow.
Suppliers of the devices have been told to stop immediately or risk further action.
Only last month a man has been jailed for three years after viewing an illegal Premier League stream on a Firestick.
Jonathan Edge, 29, from Liverpool pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act, subsequently being handed a three year and four month jail sentence.
The news was announced in an official communication by the Premier League who prosecuted the man at Liverpool Crown Court.
The Premier League said that Edge had been "loading illicit streaming services on to so-called 'Firesticks'".
He also pleaded guilty to a concurrent sentence of two years and three months for accessing and viewing content that he was supplying.
His personal use of the service was treated as a distinct crime, separate from the more serious matter of supplying.
The prosecution by the Premier League was supported by FACT and Merseyside Police.
Edge ran a service uploading illegal services onto Firesticks for profit, relying on word of mouth for advertising.
One of the key factors in Edges sentencing was the continual ignoring of warnings to cease his activity.
The judge said that legitimate subscribers to sports providers were victims of Edge's operation and therefore the impact of the crime reached further than just the broadcast industry.
Kevin Plumb, Premier League General Counsel, said: “The significant sentence handed down to the individual involved once again serves to highlight the severity of his actions and we thank Merseyside Police for their support throughout the case.
“We will continue to pursue legal action against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football, regardless of the scale or mode of operation. Ignoring warnings to stop only served to make the consequences worse for the individual."
Detective Sergeant Steve Frame from Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police is committed to working in collaboration to investigate intellectual property theft and we welcome today’s sentence handed to Edge.
“Many people see no harm in illegally streaming TV services but they are wrong, and this outcome should serve as a further warning how seriously such copyright theft continues to be taken.”
The Premier League cited its "comprehensive and sophisticated anti piracy programmes in the world" and that they are commited to bringing down illegal streaming and "prosecuting those who supply illicit services and products."
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