Legal warnings sent to 'dodgy box' providers across Ireland

So-called dodgy boxes are used to access what would ordinarily be subscriber-only content, such as premium TV sports packages, illegally.

Legal warnings have been issued to 22 Irish vendors of Amazon Fire Sticks and other smart tv devices with ‘dodgy box’ capability pre-packaged, according to an intellectual property protection group.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) said it had launched a third wave of action across Ireland targeting those selling illegal access to premium TV content.

The action is aimed at those selling ‘fully loaded’ devices such as the Fire Stick to the public.

FACT said that cease and desist notices had been delivered to addresses in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Clare, Limerick, Louth, Galway, and Monaghan between January 22 and February 2, either in person, by post or by email.

The group said that its action “is already having an impact”, with the “vast majority” of illegal streaming services being shut down.

It warned that “further action will be taken” against those deemed to have failed to comply with those notices.

The action follows previous enforcement operations carried out by FACT in March and August of last year.

The group said its actions are “part of an ongoing commitment to eliminate illegal streaming in the country and protect consumers from the risks posed by illegal streaming services”.

Premium content

So-called dodgy boxes are used to access what would ordinarily be subscriber-only content, such as premium TV sports packages, illegally.

In most contexts, they are acquired directly from individuals possessing the know-how to adjust a device to give it the capability to deliver access to an array of content for free.

The private dwellings to whom the devices are then sold typically pay an annual ‘subscription’ charge to the seller in order to maintain the device’s access to such illegal content.

In the past, it is generally those individuals who are selling the pre-packaged devices who have been targeted for legal action as opposed to the end-consumer, mainly as such actions are a lot easier to take.

Fire Sticks themselves are physical dongles produced by Amazon which can be plugged directly into a television and are legitimately used to access streaming services legally.

'Piracy is a crime'

Commenting on FACT’s latest crackdown the group’s chief operating officer Eddy Leviten said that by taking such measures it is “sending a clear message: piracy is a crime and it is taken seriously”.

He said the organisation will “continue to monitor channels used to advertise and sell illegal streams, modified Fire Sticks, and other devices to take action against illegal IP (internet protocol) TV suppliers and operators”.

“FACT and its partners are determined to disrupt these criminal operations and non-compliance with the notices could lead to further law enforcement action,” Mr Leviten said.

The group said further that per a recent survey one in three people in Ireland who stream content illegally said they, or someone they know, had been the victim of fraud, scams, or identity theft as a direct result of doing so.

It said that since it began its enforcement operations last year “more than 60” targets had been engaged with, with the vast majority of those taking down the illegal services in question on foot of a stern warning alone, adding that “significant financial settlements” have been reached with those who complied with the warnings.