Matrix Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 Popular 'pirate' IPTV service IPGuys is the latest provider to fall victim to the lawyers of DISH Network. In a lawsuit filed in the United States, three named individuals and 10 John Does stand accused of capturing DISH signals from satellite feeds and redistributing them via the Internet utilizing a network of IPTV resellers. Those involved in the sale of unlicensed IPTV services appear to be coming under attack from an increasing number of angles. Just this week, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment confirmed that it was behind the closure of previously popular IPTV service Vader Streams. Just days earlier, the UK’s Federation Against Copyright Theft said it had served cease-and-desist notices in 16 locations to individuals involved in the supply of infringing sports streams, with at least some acting as resellers of ‘pirate’ IPTV services. Today, another well-known provider is added to the growing list. IPGuys is a recognized brand in the IPTV space. It has no website of its own, with subscribers to the service gaining access through a network of resellers. For how much longer that will be the case will remain to be seen, as the service is now being sued in the United States. In a lawsuit filed by DISH Networks and NagraStar yesterday, the broadcaster names Ontario, Canada-based Tomasz Kaczmarek as the operator of IPGuys. “Kaczmarek operates an illicit streaming service called IPGuys, where he acquires DISH’s satellite broadcasts of television programming and retransmits that programming without authorization to customers of his IPGuys service,” the complaint reads. According to DISH, Brooklyn, New York-based husband and wife team John and Julia Defoe participate in the “rebroadcasting scheme” by creating and maintaining DISH subscription accounts that are used to supply the IPGuy’s service with DISH’s programming. The additional Does 1-10 are described as “one or more persons” responsible for DISH subscription accounts that were created with false information and used to supply DISH content to the scheme. DISH says the accounts were created through a former retailer in Brooklyn named Ratiann Enterprise Inc. and registered to addresses in the same area. The company hopes that the discovery process will enable it to identify the people behind those accounts. The suit states that DISH used technical means to determine that the content being offered by IPGuys originated from its satellite broadcasts. “During testing of the IPGuys service, encoded messages delivered as part of DISH’s satellite communications were detected on the DISH Programming retransmitted on the IPGuys service, confirming the DISH Programming provided by Kaczmarek is originating from DISH’s satellite communications and DISH subscriber accounts,” the complaint reads. Seven of the so-called “seeder accounts” (the accounts that allegedly provided the content to IPGuys) shared one or more credit cards as the source of payment and all had either the same passwords or password hints, DISH adds. Furthermore, the same credit cards were also used to pay for “at least twenty” additional subscriber accounts established with false information. One of the twenty accounts was held in the name of John Defoe, DISH claims, adding that Kaczmarek sent Julia Defoe “tens of thousands of dollars”, while specifically mentioning DISH. From here, DISH begins to tackle some of the resellers of the IPGuys service, which offered the roughly $15 per month packages to the public. The primary sellers are named in the suit as Romie IPTV World, IPTV Bazaar, GetIPTVOnline and IPGuys-Live. Two secondary sellers are named as The Napster and Miracle Media Box Media. DISH states that Kaczmarek and the Defoes were given notice by the company that their activities violated various aspects of the Federal Communications Act back in April 2019, but the IPGuys service continued to operate. As a result, DISH is now demanding a broad permanent injunction against all defendants, plus actual or statutory damages of between $10,000 and $100,000 per violation, plus costs. DISH’s complaint against the IPGuys operation can be found here (pdf) VIEW: Original Article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular 'pirate' IPTV service IPGuys is the latest provider to fall victim to the lawyers of DISH Network. In a lawsuit filed in the United States, three named individuals and 10 John Does stand accused of capturing DISH signals from satellite feeds and redistributing them via the Internet utilizing a network of IPTV resellers. Those involved in the sale of unlicensed IPTV services appear to be coming under attack from an increasing number of angles. Just this week, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment confirmed that it was behind the closure of previously popular IPTV service Vader Streams. Just days earlier, the UK’s Federation Against Copyright Theft said it had served cease-and-desist notices in 16 locations to individuals involved in the supply of infringing sports streams, with at least some acting as resellers of ‘pirate’ IPTV services. Today, another well-known provider is added to the growing list. IPGuys is a recognized brand in the IPTV space. It has no website of its own, with subscribers to the service gaining access through a network of resellers. For how much longer that will be the case will remain to be seen, as the service is now being sued in the United States. In a lawsuit filed by DISH Networks and NagraStar yesterday, the broadcaster names Ontario, Canada-based Tomasz Kaczmarek as the operator of IPGuys. “Kaczmarek operates an illicit streaming service called IPGuys, where he acquires DISH’s satellite broadcasts of television programming and retransmits that programming without authorization to customers of his IPGuys service,” the complaint reads. According to DISH, Brooklyn, New York-based husband and wife team John and Julia Defoe participate in the “rebroadcasting scheme” by creating and maintaining DISH subscription accounts that are used to supply the IPGuy’s service with DISH’s programming. The additional Does 1-10 are described as “one or more persons” responsible for DISH subscription accounts that were created with false information and used to supply DISH content to the scheme. DISH says the accounts were created through a former retailer in Brooklyn named Ratiann Enterprise Inc. and registered to addresses in the same area. The company hopes that the discovery process will enable it to identify the people behind those accounts. The suit states that DISH used technical means to determine that the content being offered by IPGuys originated from its satellite broadcasts. “During testing of the IPGuys service, encoded messages delivered as part of DISH’s satellite communications were detected on the DISH Programming retransmitted on the IPGuys service, confirming the DISH Programming provided by Kaczmarek is originating from DISH’s satellite communications and DISH subscriber accounts,” the complaint reads. Seven of the so-called “seeder accounts” (the accounts that allegedly provided the content to IPGuys) shared one or more credit cards as the source of payment and all had either the same passwords or password hints, DISH adds. Furthermore, the same credit cards were also used to pay for “at least twenty” additional subscriber accounts established with false information. One of the twenty accounts was held in the name of John Defoe, DISH claims, adding that Kaczmarek sent Julia Defoe “tens of thousands of dollars”, while specifically mentioning DISH. From here, DISH begins to tackle some of the resellers of the IPGuys service, which offered the roughly $15 per month packages to the public. The primary sellers are named in the suit as Romie IPTV World, IPTV Bazaar, GetIPTVOnline and IPGuys-Live. Two secondary sellers are named as The Napster and Miracle Media Box Media. DISH states that Kaczmarek and the Defoes were given notice by the company that their activities violated various aspects of the Federal Communications Act back in April 2019, but the IPGuys service continued to operate. As a result, DISH is now demanding a broad permanent injunction against all defendants, plus actual or statutory damages of between $10,000 and $100,000 per violation, plus costs. DISH’s complaint against the IPGuys operation can be found here (pdf)
straycat19 Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 I read a government document where there is a proposal to go after subscribers of illegal streaming just like utilities go after people who steal electricity, water, etc. It is very feasible and fines/penalties could be escalated using the RICO statutes since users are part of the ongoing criminal activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 2 hours ago, straycat19 said: I read a government document where there is a proposal to go after subscribers of illegal streaming just like utilities go after people who steal electricity, water, etc. It is very feasible and fines/penalties could be escalated using the RICO statutes since users are part of the ongoing criminal activity. They try to pass it before the 2011 Commercial Felony Streaming Act even Obama wanted it to pass and it was dead in the water , The NBA and UFC are trying get it passed again but there's a big problem . _____________________________________________________ This is another great example of our tax “contributions” going down the tubes and time wasted in DC! Let’s take a 10-second look at the two organizations who are lodging this complaint. By no means are they hurting. The average NBA team is worth $1.9 billion, up 13% over last year and three times the level of five years ago. Dana White, UFC President, claims that the UFC is now worth $7 billion which is $3 billion more than what it was sold for in 2016. I’m a huge fan of the UFC and have been to approximately 10 live shows. I also subscribe to their UFC Fight pass subscription service. I find both of these products in line with what should be charged, plus I want to support the fighters. Would I pay $79.99 to watch 1 Pay Per View event? Absolutely no. Pay Per View is a dying outlet and those who still use it are stuck in the past. These businesses should start going after a larger audience by charging less. Wouldn’t this also increase revenue in other areas of their business? How Do We Determine Which Streaming Sites Are Legal & Which Are Not? I’ve always held the opinion that it shouldn’t be the consumer’s responsibility to determine whether an online streaming service, app, or add-on is legal. How do we know if the proper licenses have been obtained through these various streaming portals? Yes, common sense should usually prevail but many of these IPTV sites look 100% legal and similar to services such as Sling, YouTube TV, DirecTV Now, etc. Due to this issue at hand, it will be very difficult to create an enforceable law. SET TV which was shut down last year was notorious for their marketing efforts and claims that they held the proper licensing for the media that they served. Their Website looked very professional and provided all of the account tools that most legal services offer. -------------------------------------------- Hulu admitted they make more on ads than anything else they have a cheap version with ads and a more expensive version , YouTube is phasing out YouTube Premium in favor of ads . Pirate IPTV started out as free to watch with ads there's plenty of free IPTV were you can just use a adblocker and a VPN , Some free IPTV sites even work in VLC . If they mess it up were people can't buy it in the USA will still be around with ads . It's the same as back in 2012 when they went after Filehost they stop letting you buy it with PayPal in the USA. They started using resellers and people can buy anyway are you can buy a leecher or just use free filehost that get paid with ads. Also it just depends on how do they buy pirate IPTV and do you use a VPN with it. Many accept Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin. Its not 2012 anymore were they only accept PayPal so it may not be that easy to track pirates who buy IPTV if they ever pass such a law. You can get 10 years in the UK for it they even block the streams and it don't stop them at all, No way id buy IPTV legal or not legal , to many commercials , every TV show come out soon after to download or stream on pirate sites without commercials. HBO , Showtime etc, shows old movies that done been out on pirate sites for ages. Also YouTube and TubiTV , Internet Archive , Crackle , Pluto.tv , etc have shows and movies you can watch for free legal . With all the the streaming sites coming out as much as it's going to cost to have all of them you better off just getting a satellite from Dish than streaming . AT&T IPTV going cost as much as satellite. They ruin DirectTV online . Too late now everyone done cut the cord to get away from paying those high prices they not going back . Only streaming sites that have a free tier will be successful and Piracy is going too rise to epidemic scale again like before they was Netflix . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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