Websites disrupted in TV piracy crackdown

TV PIRACY: UAE has clamped down on websites offered illegal satellite TV channels.

The UAE Ministry of Economy has ordered the disruption of 10 websites that allowed users to illegally view satellite TV channels without subscription.

The crackdown is the latest move in a national anti-piracy campaign that has intensified over recent months.

The phenomenal growth of internet usage throughout the country has attracted several similar profiteering activities, which the Ministry says it intends to target.

The disruption of 10 Korean-based internet addresses is the first of its kind in the world against copyright violations, with even more initiatives being planned by the Ministry.

A Ministry source said: "We were able to identify 10 foreign internet links and immediately ordered the disruption of local internet connections to these addresses.

"We are currently investigating similar cases and are arranging the proper protocols to ensure that the identification and disruption procedures are both swift and effective."

Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, Undersecretary of the MoE, added: “Cases of pay TV piracy have been increasing in the UAE, with dishonest operators showing more confidence that they can elude the law and the efforts of authorities concerned to prevent this crime.”

Under the government’s new pay television anti-piracy program, the Ministry will contact internet service providers to block access to illegal websites based on complaints received by concerned authorities.

The Ministry has also issued orders to all national ports of entry and federal customs to confiscate illegally imported decoder boxes, which are being used to obtain satellite television signals for free.

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Authorities can move fast when they want to
Posted by The Consultant, Dubai, UAE on Monday 15 September 2008 at 09:42 UAE time

So there you have it... the UAE authorities can't fix the traffic chaos or the accommodation crisis, but look at them move when they spot a threat to the revenues of Government organisations - VoiP/Telcos, car lifts/Dubai Transport, illegal TV/E-Vision....

Piracy
Posted by Habib Marwan, Dubai, UAE on Monday 15 September 2008 at 06:55 UAE time


How is piracy possible nowadays? It's through breakthroughs in technology. Technology is improving, because these systems to prevent piracy keep getting beaten. In fact anti piracy measures are encouraging breakthroughs in technology. Therefore my point is so long as these websites are broadcasting for free, governments should leave it. If the point is to reduce piracy, then in fact it should curtail advancements in technology, which no country would want to do, right? Therefore leave it alone and do nothing.

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