Hefty fines for those found selling TV boxes with unlicensed content

PETALING JAYA: A total of seven people have been caught and fined for selling TV boxes with unauthorised content since the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2022 came into force.

In a statement, Astro’s Communications Department said the latest case involved one person charged and fined by the Sessions Court here on Thursday (Nov 9).

“The individual was charged with selling a TV box preloaded with unauthorised Astro content under Section 43AA (1)(c) of the Copyright Act 1987, pleaded guilty to the charges and paid the fine of RM10,000.

“The offence was committed on July 20 at a mall in Petaling Jaya where nine TV boxes, including one preloaded with unauthorised content, were found during a raid,” the statement read.

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It added that earlier this year, six others were charged and fined for the same offence under the Act.

“On April 3, a 22-year-old student was fined by a Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court for having in his possession an unauthorised link to a popular local TV drama series on his devices.

“On April 5, two individuals were charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with selling TV boxes with unauthorised Astro content.

“On April 13, two others were fined RM14,000 in total by a Kluang Magistrate’s Court for a similar offence.

“On June 16, one individual was fined RM20,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for the same offence,” it read.

The statement also pointed out that the amendment to the Act was gazetted on Feb 10 last year.

It explained that the key impact of the amendment is the criminalisation of the sale of illicit streaming devices (ISDs) and associated software applications that allow unauthorised access to copyrighted content.

“Anyone found guilty can be fined up to RM200,000, imprisoned up to 20 years, or both.

“The amendments followed the declaration by the Intellectual Property High Court in Kuala Lumpur in May 2021 that the sale, offer for sale, distribution and/or supply of ISDs that can provide unauthorised access to copyrighted works, constitutes copyright infringement under the Copyright Act 1987,” it said.

It urged anyone with information on such activities to notify the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry through its hotline at 1-800-886-800 or its Enforcement Command Centre at 03-8882 6088; by WhatsApp at 019-279 4317; email to e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my; or via the minstry’s Ez ADU app.