London pay-TV piracy arrest
June 4, 2015
By Colin Mann
Officers from the UK’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) have arrested a man on suspicion of selling card sharing satellite receivers that provide viewers access to premium pay channels without a subscription.
The 26-year-old man was arrested by detectives from the City of London Police unit in Southall, London at his place of work where it is believed he is selling the devices for close to £200 each.
Card sharing is a method that allows protected encrypted television broadcasts to be viewed without a valid subscription to the broadcast provider.
The suspect was taken to a local police station where he was questioned and later received a caution.
Head of PIPCU, Detective Chief Inspector Danny Medlycott said the specialist team was the only police unit in the world dedicated to combating intellectual property crime. “Working closely with our partners and other law enforcement agencies, we are committed to tackling criminals who exploit other’s intellectual property for their own greed and financial gain,” he confirmed.