TV piracy run by organised crime
In the article “TV piracy run by organised crime,” experts argue that the most damaging TV piracy is operated by criminal networks rather than casual infringers.
Key points:
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Centralized operations: A small number of pirate organizations are behind a large proportion of illegal TV streaming.
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Geographic sheltering: Many operators are located in jurisdictions like Panama and the Seychelles, where enforcement is weak and private entities have limited recourse.
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Operational mistakes reveal them: During major events like the World Cup, pirates sometimes fail to hide digital traces (e.g. user agents, referrals), exposing their sources via logs.
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Crime scale and revenue: Mark Lichtenhein (CEO, Sports Rights Owners Coalition) calls TV piracy “organised crime,” ranking it among the top criminal revenue sources after drug and human trafficking.
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Legal ambiguities: He criticizes vague legal terms such as “expeditious” takedowns in copyright law, arguing that delays (especially over weekends) allow pirates to profit.
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Core infrastructure: He notes that piracy in Europe can be traced to about 50 data centers that act as hubs for illicit distribution.
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Criminal structure: Former police officer David Gilmore (Friend MTS) says piracy operations resemble organized crime cells, with specialized roles, money laundering, and crossover into other illegal activities.
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Business model: Some pirated streams charge users (e.g. up to $20/month), while others monetize via ads, gambling, pornography, or even pirating content from other pirate services.
