The national crack down on the use of ‘dodgy boxes’ to access premium TV content is moving closer to home, as households within Galway were issued cease-and-desist notices between August 7 to 18.
The letters, which were issued to households in Mayo, Monaghan, Galway, Louth, Dublin, Cork and Laois, instruct those using services which provide illegal access to ‘premium television content’ being issued to households running devices which provide illegal access to premium TV content, warning users to ‘immediately cease all illegal streaming activity otherwise risk facing the consequences, including criminal prosecution’.
Coordinated by the Irish Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT ), the letters, which were delivered in person, by post and by email, are part of a broader targeted campaign in Ireland ‘designed to disrupt and shut down organised and sophisticated piracy networks’, which has been in operation in Ireland since March this year, with a number of illegal streaming services taken down and legal proceedings brought against the individuals.
The rise of ‘dodgy boxes’
The popularity of so called ‘dodgy boxes’ in households in Ireland has been on a steady upward trajectory in most recent years. In 2019, a study commissioned by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO ) into the prevalence of Illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV ) systems across Europe, found that over five per cent of the country’s population, a figure of around 170,000, accessed copyright protected material through devices commonly known as ‘dodgy boxes’. With such a high number of the country’s population turning to these devices to access television content, it is of little surprise that Ireland was listed as the sixth highest country in the EU for using such devices, with €12.5 million being generated from the sale and distribution of IPTV systems.
The popularity of such boxes in Ireland largely comes down to cost, with households paying on average €6 per month for content (€72 per year ) through IPTV systems, compared to popular streaming sites which range from €8 (€96 per year ) to €21 (€242 per year ) per month for content.
Curbing the growth of IPTV
Kieron Sharp, CEO at FACT, commented said, “Illegal IPTV service providers are breaking the law and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft. Consumers who pay for pirate services should also know that they are often funding serious organised crime groups.
“FACT and partners remain committed to disrupting these criminal operations and protecting consumers.”
As well as organisations like FACT trying to clamp down on ‘dodgy boxes’, content providers are making moves to counter the distribution of content sharing, both legally and illegally. In May, Netflix introduced its counter measure to tackle ‘password sharing’ on its streaming platform by establishing a ‘set home network’ for the account holder and removing access to those who are logging in from an IP address outside of that home network. In 2022, the Premier League were granted an ‘enhanced blocking order’ against Irish internet service providers, who are now obligated to remove access to host websites that illegally stream sporting matches.
Scared straight, or still streaming?
With ‘dodgy box’ systems becoming more popular throughout the country, the efficacy of such cease-and-desist letters being sent to users cannot yet be determined as a whole, but many interviewed about the prospect seem undeterred by the threat.
One Galway city based user of an adapted streaming device named Niamh, says that she is willing to hedge her bets when it comes to potential consequences.
“If a letter came through the door I would probably be initially apprehensive about watching TV, but I don’t really believe that there will be any follow up for users because there are so many people who have them. Half the county would be up in court.”
Niamh’s disbelief in an organised crackdown by authorities was seconded by another city resident, who did not wish to share his name, but succinctly said, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” when asked about any concerns.
“I am not at all worried,” said Annie who has been using an adapted USB device to access TV programmes across different streaming platforms for the price of €50 per year. “In my mind it is like the TV licence, it is not like someone can come into my house and confirm that I am using the device. The worst that will happen is that my access will be cut off, but then I will just get another one. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney cost a fortune and are not worth the cost.”
