The English Premier League (EPL) has recently obtained a court order to force local internet service providers to block access to 50 websites and apps showing football matches illegally.
According to the Straits Times, this will bring the tally to about 600 blocked illicit domains in Singapore. This includes the 125 illegal sites that were blocked in February and April of this year.
Source: Freepik
The latest ruling by the Singapore High Court also cuts off access to pirated websites and apps commonly installed on illegal streaming devices.
Premier League general counsel, Mr Kevin Plumb, said that the football association is pleased that Singapore continues to recognise the importance of protecting intellectual property (IP) rights.
He stressed that Premier League fans who view matches via illegal streaming methods expose themselves to exploitation by cyber criminals who often use those platforms for scams.
Source: Canva, for illustration purposes only.
Additionally, according to CrimeStoppers UK, illegal streaming carries multiple consequential risks. This includes being exposed to dangerous malware, fraud and data theft.
“By blocking these illegal sites, we are not only stopping wider criminality but also helping ensure our fans watch Premier League matches in a safe, high-quality way,” Plumb said.
The football association also shared that they are actively working with local authorities and broadcast partners across Asia to seize individuals who sell and distribute its content illegally.
As a result, thousands of domains have been blocked in Indonesia and Vietnam in the last five years. Nearly 300 domains in Malaysia have also been blocked.
In Singapore, a 37-year-old man was sentenced to 10 months in jail in October this year for selling illegal streaming devices. He confessed to infringing the copyright owned by numerous organisations including Disney, Netflix, and the Premier League.
His two shops at Sim Lim Square were also fined $200,000 and $100,000 respectively under the Copyright Act.
His conviction was the first such prosecution under Section 150 of the Copyright Act in Singapore. The law mainly targets copyright infringement by commercial dealers of illegal streaming devices.
Also read: S’pore Blocks 99 Web Domains Allowing Illegal Streaming, 123Movies & KissAsian Among Them
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Featured image adapted from Premier League and Freepik.
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