£50,000 Amazon Fire Stick warning in new crackdown on illegal football streaming

Efforts to tackle illegal streaming of Premier League football and other top sporting events are being stepped up, in a warning to everyone who uses modified Amazon Fire Sticks and other "dodgy devices". The authorities are increasingly trying to take measures to tackle illegal streaming of sport which is widespread across the UK.

People who use the illegally modified sticks in their homes to watch football and other sport have been told they face fines of thousands of pounds if caught. While those distributing the streaming devices could face penalties of over £50,000 - or even jail time.

A number of raids have been carried out across the country over recent months as part of the crackdown. Experts have now issued a fresh warning that authorities are only like to step up their efforts further to stamp up illegal streaming.

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Alex Hemming from Free Bets Ireland said: "Illegal streaming of sports is a significant legal offence under UK copyright law. Those caught can face not only civil penalties but also criminal charges. The penalties are severe, with possible unlimited fines and imprisonment terms of up to 10 years.

"The enforcement of these laws has been bolstered by the Digital Economy Act 2017, which targets both the providers and viewers of illegal streaming services. This legislation provides UK law enforcement with robust tools to aggressively pursue and prosecute those involved in digital piracy.

"UK law enforcement, including the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), is intensifying efforts to combat illegal sports streaming. These initiatives often involve collaboration with internet service providers and have led to high-profile raids and the shutdown of numerous illegal streaming operations.

"For instance, actions against IPTV services distributing unauthorised Premier League broadcasts have led to significant legal outcomes and the dismantling of complex illegal streaming networks. The financial repercussions for illegal streaming are substantial.

"Courts can levy fines that, depending on the scale of the infringement, may reach tens of thousands of pounds. For example, individuals found distributing illegal streams have faced fines upwards of £50,000. Viewers of such streams, while typically facing less severe fines, can still be penalised with fines often exceeding several thousand pounds, reflecting the severity with which the UK treats copyright infringement."