Prison for man who sold illegal streaming devices in historic prosecution

The Premier League, which opened its first international office in Singapore in 2019, said Ge’s conviction was the first-ever prosecution under Section 150 of the Copyright Act 2021, which imposes a liability for copyright infringement to commercial resellers of illegal streaming devices.

The prosecutions also mark an important milestone in the fight against piracy in Singapore, the league added, specifying that the consequences will be serious for companies and individuals involved in the sale and distribution of copyrighted content, including trafficking of illegal streaming devices.

“The important outcome of this case once again confirms that there are serious consequences for those who provide unauthorized access to Premier League football,” said Kevin Plumb, general counsel for the Premier League.

“We welcome this landmark prosecution, which is the result of detailed investigations carried out in collaboration with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Singapore and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force.

“We thank them for their commitment and expertise in the investigations and prosecutions which followed the first searches in 2022.”

The Premier League said it would continue to work closely with its official broadcast licensee StarHub and support Singapore law enforcement and authorities in the fight against piracy.

In addition to enforcement measures, the league also identifies and blocks access to websites offering illegal streams.

“This is the first in a series of cases to emerge from these raids and is the latest important step in our anti-piracy work in partnership with local law enforcement authorities,” said Mr. Plumb.

“We will continue to take action against piracy and educate fans about the risks associated with using illegal services. The safest and best way for Singapore fans to watch Premier League matches is via the authorized broadcast partner channels.”