The Charleroi police have published a warning message on Facebook about this increasingly widespread practice among the population. Indeed, many Belgians connect at home to illegal IPTV. The opportunity for the Charleroi police to recall everything you need to know on this subject and the risks involved.
Because in Belgium, several thousand people have succumbed to the charms of IPTV for months. But watching these premium channels through these pirate services is illegal. And could – theoretically – get you in trouble. “As far as the end user is concerned, the situation used to be unclear,” explained Me Maud Cock.
“In 2017, the Court of Justice of the European Union clarified the situation by specifying that the viewing of illegal content and streaming could fall within the scope of the reproduction right which is subject to authorization. And it equates streaming with downloading. »
To put it simply, by watching a football match on a premium channel that you receive illegally via your IPTV decoder, you could be prosecuted for infringement. “The criminal code provides for imprisonment of one to a maximum of five years. And a fine included, if we take into account the additional tenths, between €3,000 and €600,000. »
The risk of a criminal conviction is low because there must be “malicious and fraudulent intent.” “. But be aware that you could also be sued in civil proceedings by the rights holders who could ask you to repair the damage suffered.
What about the box retailer?
The box allowing access to IPTV services is simple. This is often a small media player. These boxes can be found on the internet or in certain stores where they are sold preconfigured. In this case, the seller also risks worries. “In the same judgment, the Court of Justice considered that the resellers gave access to protected content and that the added value of this product was therefore illegal”, deciphers Me Maud Cock
Rest assured, rightsholders rarely sue the end user. For them, it is more effective to attack the hackers who offer the service or to ask the providers to block access to specific servers. A case that has already happened in Belgium for the famous download site “ThePirateBay”.