Seven people have been caught and fined for selling TV boxes with unauthorized content since the Copyright (Amendment) Act of 2022 came into effect.
Astro’s Communications Department stated that the most recent case involved one person who was charged and fined by the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya on November 9th.
“The individual was charged for selling a TV box preloaded with unauthorized 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 statement read.
This offense took place at a mall in Petaling Jaya where a raid discovered nine TV boxes, including one preloaded with unauthorized content.
Six others were previously charged and fined for the same offense under the Act earlier this year.
“On April 3, a 22-year-old student was fined by a Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court for having an unauthorized 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 unauthorized Astro content.
“On April 13, two others were fined RM14,000 in total by a Kluang Magistrate’s Court for a similar offense.
“On June 16, one individual was fined RM20,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for the same offense,” 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 criminalization of the sale of illicit streaming devices (ISDs) and associated software applications that allow unauthorized 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 unauthorized 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 [email protected]; or via the ministry’s Ez ADU app.
