Mayukh Saha

Mayukh Saha

January 30, 2024

The Punishment for Using an Amazon Fire Stick Illegally is Sort of Harsh

The Amazon Fire Stick is, undoubtedly, a pretty handy gadget. It lets the user stream whatever they like even on their non-smart TVs. It essentially upgrades your normal TV to one of the fancy modern ones that already have all the apps installed. However, the gadget has also been used to illegally stream TV. Many customers have used the gadget to stream content from Netflix, Sky Sports, Disney+, and Amazon Prime for free, which would otherwise have required a premium subscription. However, the company has started to crack down on such practices. It has begun by issuing a formal warning that continuing such activities can lead to facing prosecution as it means breaking copyright laws.

In 2022, a survey discovered that as many as 19% of all the people asked admitted to illegally downloading or streaming content via the Amazon Fire Stick in the previous three months. As such, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT UK) is now attempting to crack down on such illegal Fire Stick usage. They have now issued cease and desist letters. They have even physically appeared at the premises of the citizens who are suspected of engaging in such illegal behavior.

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Amazon Fire Stick
Image Credits: Stock

The Amazon Fire Stick Issue Is A Tricky Situation

In a later statement, FACT claimed that there has been a “significant” increase in reports regarding people engaging in illegal usage of the Amazon fire sticks. A FACT representative explained that the body “constantly monitors the digital landscape to combat illegal streaming activities in the UK and Ireland”. They further revealed that they use various methods to locate and identify citizens who participate in or run illegal businesses that provide access to such streams without permission or compensation.

One of their methods is via their partnership with Crimestoppers. This “make it easy as possible to report illegal streaming, and over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of reports directly linked to Fire Sticks and illegal streaming.” FACT’s Intelligence Unit then investigates the reports. The ensuing actions include Cease and Desist letters as well as carrying out “Knock and Talks” across the nation. The home visits “undertaken in conjunction with law enforcement” will inform the individuals about their activities and warn them about future prosecution should they continue. FACT also works closely with law enforcement to gather evidence and pursue further legal actions against such criminal entities.

The result of the prosecution for illegally using steaming platforms via the Amazon Fire Stick can include jail time. The Fraud Act 2006, Section 11 explains: “obtaining services dishonestly [which includes] knowing the services are made available on the basis that payment has been, is being, or will be made for or in respect of them or that they might be; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in full or in part”. Being guilty of this trespass can lead to up to 12 months in prison at minimum and 5 years at most.   

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H/t Joe.co.uk