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SINGAPORE: The High Court has ordered ISPs to block access to TV Box applications that allow users to stream and download content such as movies, TV shows and live sports channels.
This follows the hearing of a petition filed in October by Singnet, Fox Networks Group Singapore, NGC Network Asia, Fox International Channels (US) and The Football Association Premier League.
Such applications "blatantly violate copyright by acting as gateways to websites that disseminate pirated content," said the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) of the Asian Broadcasting Association. Video Industry (AVIA) in a press release issued Friday, November 23. The complainants are members of the CAP.
"These applications are preloaded on TV boxes that are sold openly in retail outlets such as Sim Lim Square, computer shows and popular electronic markets," added CAP.
The motion was heard by the High Court on November 2 and Judicial Commissioner Dedar Singh Gill subsequently granted the proposed orders against eight areas of authentication servers.
In response to Channel NewsAsia's questions, Singtel, StarHub and M1 stated that they complied with the court order.
READ: Android box vendor will challenge lawsuit in copyright infringement case
AVIA President, Louis Boswell, welcomed the court's decision, pointing out that illicit streaming devices ("ISD") "have an impact on all companies involved in the production and distribution of distribution of legitimate content ".
"Configuring TVs in this way allows unauthorized access to TV channels and video-on-demand content, with the proceeds going to the pockets of unions and criminal individuals," he said.
UBTV, a preloaded application from the Chinese company Unblock Tech, is a blocking application, said CAP Executive Director Neil Gane.
According to its website, Unblock Tech has more than 500 agents and distributors around the world and claims to have users from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
"Consumers who buy CIOs not only fund criminal groups, but also waste their money when TV stations stop operating," said Gane. "CIOs do not come with a service guarantee, no matter what the seller can claim."
MALWARE
In addition, Gane said consumers who access pirated content may be affected by malware.
"The free appetite or paid cheap subscription rates for pirated applications found on ISD blinker some consumers the real risks of infection by malware, such as spyware, software ransomware and malware extraction, "he added.
According to London-based Digital TV Research, the piracy of online television and movies will cost the industry about 31.8 billion US dollars ($ 42.9 billion) in worldwide revenue this year, to reach 51.6 billion US dollars by 2022.
"With widespread piracy, the content sector, including that of Singaporean content, would have less incentive to grow and create," Gane said.
READ: Nearly 4 out of 10 Singaporeans actively launching content illegally: CASBAA study
READ: TV streaming devices – are they legal in Singapore?
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