Ground Report

Retransmitting television broadcasts without permission over the internet amounts to violation of copyright. Those who hold the copyright to a creation have the right to determine by whom, when and how it will be disseminated to the public. That illegal IPTV is based around the redistribution of television content over the internet, is a matter of copyright infringement. It is also a gross abuse of international communication systems. Secondary transmission over the internet, where online transmission occurs simultaneously with television broadcasts, also constitutes copyright infringement if carried out impermissibly.

To transmit a television program in a manner that does not infringe copyright, permission from all relevant entities must be acquired and the due fees must be paid to the entities. Unfortunately, pirates are fraudulently and willfully rebroadcasting copyrighted programs to consumers. These companies have washed their hands off any responsibility, stating that they do not guarantee or claim any rights to the content. They are putting customers at risk of breaching the law, and also pose the risk of being fly-by-night operators who leave customers in the lurch once subject t o legal action.

There are many debates around whether or not the internet is good or harmful for the future of television. While it may appear as if live streaming via internet satisfies the on-demand requirements of the viewing public, it also capitalizes on this very desire to encourage TV pirates. The law cannot be overstepped and the rights of television broadcasters cannot be compromised. Those who buy products from illegal IPTV companies are accessories in the infringement process.

Thankfully, the legal system is cracking down on illegal television retransmissions and rebroadcasts.   Almost always, perpetrators indulge in wrongful acts without any regard for US copyright laws. Entertainment broadcasters have also stepped up efforts to keep pirates in check, initiating aggressive lawsuits and creating awareness about this fast-growing fraud.