Following a joint criminal complaint by the Premier League, Sky and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the defendant was found guilty of five criminal charges including various intellectual property and cybercrime-related offences. The ruling also ordered that the websites seized be shut down, the defendant’s devices be cleared of all data, and the deletion of all accounts used for client and customer communication. This reinforces the local judicial authorities’ commitment to protecting global intellectual property rights and combating cybercrimes.
The successful conviction for illegal streaming of live sports events, movies and international TV channels follows a collaborative and coordinated action, alongside local authorities and supported by ALEM & Associates.
Kevin Plumb, Premier League General Counsel, said: “The outcome of this case highlights the severity with which courts across the world continue to treat all forms of piracy, and the stark consequences for those responsible for this criminality.
“The case further demonstrates the Premier League’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property around the world. This is not only important to us and our broadcast partners, but it is essential for the future health of English football and the protection of our fans.
“This case perfectly shows the benefits of working alongside other rights owners. I would like to thank our co-complainants, Sky and ACE, for their trusted partnership throughout these unique and complex proceedings leading up to this conviction.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, added: “This ruling sends a strong message that those who illegally steal our content will be pursued and can be brought to justice, no matter where in the world they are. We thank the Premier League, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and international law enforcement, whose partnership with us in fighting piracy is critical.
“The Lebanese judicial authorities in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Lebanese Cyber Crime Bureau successfully pursued the prosecution of this individual, who has been involved in the egregious theft of content for many years. We will continue to take steps to shut down organised criminal networks who are intent on stealing our content and whose activities expose consumers to real risks of malware, identity theft and data loss.”
Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association, said: “This case is a prime example of how collaboration with ACE members, other rights owners and local authorities is making an impact in the global fight against piracy. In addition, the sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence to those who wilfully violate the intellectual property rights of creators around the world—piracy is a crime, and infringers will face serious consequences.”
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Notes to editors
About the Premier League
The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.
The Premier League has one of the most comprehensive anti-piracy programmes in the world, working with an extensive list of broadcast partners, associated parties, and authorities to bring down illegal streams and investigate and prosecute suppliers of illegal streaming services.
About Sky
Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies and is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that connects people to moments and experiences that matter. At Sky we Believe in Better. It’s in our DNA. We’re famous for innovation. We offer the world’s smartest TV, Sky Glass; our plug and play streaming puck, Sky Stream; the best aggregation platform, Sky Q; and streaming services NOW and WOW. We provide connectivity you can count on in mobile, fast, secure, reliable residential and business broadband, as well as smart home protection through Sky Protect.
We’re Europe’s premium content producer. We create award-winning original content, produce the biggest live sporting events, and we provide free access to news and the arts. Our new state-of-the-art film and TV studio Sky Studios Elstree is projected to attract £3 billion of new production investment to the UK in its first five years and create up to 2,000 jobs.
We are a diverse and inclusive employer that has a positive impact on society and the communities that we work and live in. Sky plays a major role in the UK’s cultural economy and, in 2022 alone, supported a contribution of £20 billion to UK GDP, broadcast 70,000 hours of elite sports coverage and invested over £130 million to provide news to consumers free of charge.
About The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) is the world’s leading coalition dedicated to protecting the legal creative market and reducing digital piracy. Driven by a comprehensive approach to addressing piracy through criminal referrals, civil litigation, and cease-and-desist operations, ACE has achieved many successful global enforcement actions against illegal streaming services and unauthorized content sources and their operators. Drawing upon the collective expertise and resources of more than 50 media and entertainment companies around the world—including sports channels and associations—and reinforced by the Motion Picture Association’s content protection operations, ACE protects the creativity and innovation that drives the global growth of core copyright and entertainment industries. The current governing board members for ACE are Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE.
