Illegal streaming sites could be blocked

BLOCKING illegal streaming services and clamping down on rogue app developers are among the Government’s proposals to tackle the problem of intellectual property theft.

In a bid to reduce the millions estimated to be lost by UK creative industries each year, ministers want to give law enforcers powers to suspend streaming sites administratively.

Currently, they must seek a High Court injunction for every case.

Legal media streaming devices such as Android TV and Kodi boxes can be adapted to bypass paywalls with apps or add-ons so users can access content – such as subscription TV, some sports channels and new films – for free.

The Government wants to raise awareness among consumers that buying a doctored streaming device could land them with a heavy fine.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) said the current laws were effective, highlighting the case of an operator of a pirate service streaming Premier League matches who was jailed for five years this summer. Elsewhere, two suppliers of illicit streaming devices were jailed for four-and-a-half years for selling hundreds of devices that let customers watch Sky Sports, BT Sport and foreign channels for free.

However, the Government wants to see further measures introduced.

Following a call by the IPO for views on the practice of illicit streaming, the Government has announced it will review how administrative site blocking could protect creative and sporting industries. It also said it would look at how developers of the apps used to adapt streaming boxes could be disrupted, and start research on consumer views towards the illegal devices so it could develop strategies to reduce their use.

Sam Gyimah, the minister for Intellectual Property, said: “Illegal streaming damages our creative industries. Media streaming devices used to access ‘paid for’ material for free are illegal. Recent prosecutions have shown that if caught, sellers of boxes adapted in this way face fines and a prison sentence.

“Through our modern industrial strategy, we are backing our booming creative industries, which is why we are taking further steps to tackle this threat.”