Liverpool steps up the fight against football piracy

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Three years and four months in jail for pirate content installer in England

Jonathan Edge, a 29-year-old man from Liverpool, has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for installing pirated content on Firestick devices to watch football. Edge not only provided access to unlicensed matches, but also promoted his services on social media and through customer recommendations. According to the authorities, the Premier League had already issued several warnings to the defendant to cease his illegal activity, which Edge ignored.

Edge conducted its business by pirating sports content and selling it through Firesticks, streaming devices that allow, with certain settings, access to paid content for free. By promoting its offer through Facebook ads and word of mouth, Edge managed to attract a good number of customers interested in following Premier League matches without having to pay the high prices of official subscriptions.

Despite warnings, Edge continued with his business, and was arrested in October following an investigation that led to his arrest and subsequent confession to three fraud-related offences. A few weeks later, a judge also convicted him of consuming pirated content himself, although this second sentence will be served concurrently with the first. The judge also pointed out that it is not only Edge that is guilty, but that subscribers who access these pirate services are also harmed, often inadvertently.

Merseyside Police Detective Sergeant Steve Frame has backed the ruling and said that the Edge case should act as a ‘strong warning’ to those who try to pirate or consume content illegally. Frame stressed that many people do not understand the extent of the harm caused by piracy, but emphasised that it is an illegal activity with serious repercussions for all involved, including consumers. According to Frame, many see these services as a harmless option to watch football at low cost, but are unaware that they are actually participating in an illegal chain of content distribution that affects clubs, leagues and the entire structure of the sport.

The Premier League has also welcomed the court's decision, stressing that the fight against piracy is crucial to protect broadcasting rights and the future of professional football. Broadcasting rights represent one of the most important sources of revenue for clubs and the operation of the industry as a whole, so they see piracy as a large-scale problem that can affect the quality of the product and, ultimately, the ability of teams to remain competitive.

This case sets a precedent in the fight against piracy of sports content in the UK and reflects the firm intention of the UK authorities to tackle the illegal consumption and distribution of content. With increasing technological options making it easier to access pirated content, the UK authorities appear determined to nip in the bud any attempts to profit from illegal football broadcasting.

In a statement, the Premier League also stressed that such illegal activities damage the experience of legitimate fans and put the sustainability of leagues and competitions at risk. They warned that cases such as Edge's are proof that piracy not only affects businesses, but also has consequences for those who participate in or support these illicit practices, even passively.

The sentencing of Jonathan Edge comes at a time when the Premier League and other entertainment giants are stepping up efforts to curb digital piracy. Such sentences send a clear message to those who regard piracy as a ‘harmless alternative’: the authorities and the industry are not prepared to tolerate this activity and will continue to pursue those, like Edge, who choose to ignore warnings and persist in illegal practices.