Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Over recent years, amid the influx in costs of subscription services for football fans to watch their favourite teams or events, a similar rise has been seen in the use of Amazon Fire Sticks, or, as they are commonly called 'dodgy boxes'. Frustrated with the rising prices set by sports broadcasters, fans have turned to Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services to stream sporting events illegally, despite the potential repercussions with the law. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) are working with broadcasters akin to Sky Sports and TNT Sports to crack down on jailbroken Fire Stick usage for streaming Premier League matches, with reports emerging last month that a full list of UK areas being targeted in the latest fire stick crackdown included London and Merseyside, seeing one Liverpool man given a three-year prison sentence for selling the devices and services. As Amazon manufacturers makes moves to clamp down on Fire Sticks by making changes to new models in order to prevent their devices being used illegally, the consequences remain severe for users or suppliers of illegal IPTV subscriptions. What Could Happen If Sports Fans Using 'Dodgy Fire Sticks' Get Caught Hundreds of thousands of British sports fans are said to use the 'dodgy Fire Sticks' and the associated illegal services to stream sporting events, mainly Premier League matches, but more specifically the 3pm fixtures, which are prohibited from live broadcasting due to the blackout rule. Despite countless warnings of imprisonment and police raids on those supplying the services, fans are still opting to utilise the illegal streams over the official broadcasters, but run the risk of violating section 11 of the Fraud Act, 2006. According to UK Government Legislation, section of the 2006 Fraud Act stipulates that: "Section 11 makes it an offence for any person, by any dishonest act, to obtain services for which payment is required, with the intent to avoid payment. "The person must know that the services are made available on the basis that they are chargeable, or that they might be. It is not possible to commit the offence by omission alone, and it can be committed only where the dishonest act was done with the intent not to pay for the services as expected." Therefore, obtaining the broadcaster's services, which require subscription payment via the jailbroken Fire Sticks, contravenes this, and can lead to between one and five years' imprisonment depending on the severity of the offence. In light of the aforementioned Liverpool man, Jonathan Edge, who was sentenced last year for selling the devices after ignoring multiple cease-and-desist letters, FACT are continuing their crackdown on illegal streaming activity. A FACT UK spokesperson told LADbible: "FACT’s enforcement activities against illegal streaming are ongoing throughout the year. "Together with our partners and the police, we constantly review new intelligence and target those areas of the UK and Ireland where the data shows that illegal streaming activity is taking place. "Our investigations are thorough, and we are relentless in our determination to stop illegal streaming and bring offenders to justice. To avoid jeopardising operations that are in progress, we do not share details publicly until enforcement action has been completed." With Amazon and the authorities both working to negate those using Fire Sticks for the illegal streaming services, and the increased crackdowns around the country, 'dodgy boxes' could soon become a thing of the past. However, many Premier League supporters who have opted for illicit services amid their frustrations with the 3pm blackout rule, argue that fans would not turn to illegal methods if they could watch their beloved team in action no matter the kick-off time.
