Warning to ‘unreliable’ firestick users as lawyer says you could lose your HOME if caught by authorities
Sports fans who ‘jailbreak’ an Amazon Firestick to illegally stream Premiership football matches or pay-per-view films could lose their homes if they are charged with copyright theft, experts have warned.
Dozens of people on Facebook claim to be offering Firestick logins with ‘unlimited live channels’ for just £40, compared to around £100 a month if someone wants Sky and TNT sports channels, along with films and other extras.
However, streaming such services without paying a licensing fee exposes a homeowner to potential prosecution, including action in the Supreme Court, resulting in possible six-figure payouts.
If the case goes to criminal court, it could lead to significant prison sentences.
Sports fans who turn to illegal streams to watch live sporting events or movies could potentially lose their homes or face long prison sentences, legal experts warn
Users can download onto their devices software developed by organized crime gangs that hire hackers to illegally bypass subscription paywalls for copyrighted material
In May 2023, a gang of five men who ran an illegal £7million streaming network were sentenced to more than 30 years in prison after their operation was busted.
Several others have also been jailed for operating their own streaming networks, with police knocking on the doors of fans found to be using such services.
Additionally, people who download software to their home network are at risk of data theft, which could allow cybercriminals to view sensitive information.
Some criminal gangs deliberately infect their rivals’ services with malware to lose their customers.
According to the UK Film Council, they estimate that the loss to the film and television industry could exceed £400 million per year.
Intellectual property lawyer Samuel O’Toole of Briffa told MailOnline: ‘This is not a “victimless crime”. Intellectual property is all about copyright.
“If someone uses a ‘jailbroken’ firestick, they are violating copyright by viewing content without paying the appropriate licensing fees.
Mark Gould, pictured, is seen in May 2018 sitting in his pajama bottoms, surrounded by crisp packets, bongs and cardboard boxes, as investigators search his south London home. He was jailed for 11 years for operating an illegal streaming service worth £7 million
Bodycam footage also shows around 30 linked set-top boxes used in the illegal operation stacked up in the building
The flawless on-screen menu, with matches available on the illegal streaming service
‘Copyrighted material is personal property. It is created and owned by someone and cannot be used without their permission.”
According to Mr O’Toole, copyright infringement is akin to walking into a local supermarket and stealing Mars bars from the counter.
‘Sky is a big company. But copyright holders can only create good content if they are appropriately rewarded for their efforts.
‘It is also the law-abiding citizen who suffers from people who illegally stream content. Sky and other service providers may be able to reduce their rates if everyone does their bit.”
People who violate copyright law can be prosecuted in civil or criminal court, depending on the nature and extent of the violation.
At the higher end of the scale, penalties for violation can include significant prison sentences.
Mr O’Toole believes that without incentive, creators will no longer produce quality content, leaving everyone poorer.
‘If a case goes to criminal court, you can receive a prison sentence of ten years. That is a significant fine.
‘That would be for criminal gangs, the bigger fish and not for someone who streams at home. There will be prison sentences for people who make money stealing copyrights.
‘Although the copyright holder could take a home streamer to the Intellectual Property and Business Court. There you can pay £60,000 in costs and if you lose you will also pay the other party’s costs and compensation.
‘Companies will first check whether the offender has money and assets before filing such a case. Pubs and other businesses that illegally stream content may be at risk of this.
‘Pubs and clubs that illegally stream live sporting events are at risk of this because the copyright holder can secure a judgment against them for a sum of money.’
Mr O’Toole said in the most serious cases this could put someone’s home at risk.
‘If Sky or another copyright holder sues and secures a £100,000 judgment, they could seek an injunction against the property or other assets, so you may lose your home.’
In addition to the legal danger that illegal streamers face, they also entrust an organized crime gang with access to your home computer network.
‘A good analogy is inviting a fox into the chicken coop. Your computers and tablets contain sensitive data. For example, you can use them for internet banking or shopping.’
Mr O’Toole suggests that you cannot trust a criminal gang with access to your data.
An industry security expert told MailOnline: ‘Unauthorized IPTV services often operate without proper security measures, exposing users to serious data breaches and cyber attacks.
‘Personal information, including credit card details, can be collected by these rogue platforms, leaving users vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. The data collected can be sold on the dark web, putting the privacy of individuals at risk.”
On a practical level, the quality of the stream will also likely be sub-optimal, with “constant buffering issues and frequent service interruptions.”
However, experts believe that illegal streamers can put themselves in additional danger depending on the actions of the criminal gang providing the service.
‘Using illegal streaming platforms puts users at risk of downloading malware, viruses and other malicious software. Unsuspecting viewers can unknowingly download malicious files while accessing content through pirated IPTV services.
“Such infections can seriously damage their devices and compromise online security.”