Copyright infringement: raid in Crotone – 2,769 users identified and goods worth €650,000 seized
Assets worth €650,000 have been seized and four people have been reported to the authorities. Duilio (Sky CEO): “Anyone using these services risks fines, scams and data theft.”
The matter is now clear: TV piracy is no longer the preserve of tech-savvy, crafty lads watching the match. It is an organised operation, complete with servers, resellers, customers, revenue streams and even technical support.
Andrea Duilio, CEO of Sky Italia, has spoken out strongly following the raid by the Crotone Financial Police: “I would like to thank the Crotone Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Crotone Financial Police for this latest anti-piracy operation.” He adds that this action serves to “combat the sense of impunity” and to remind users that piracy exposes them “not only to fines and penalties, but also to scams, theft of personal data and cyber threats”.
The case originated in Crotone, but reflects a nationwide problem. The Italian tax police have uncovered three illegal IPTV signal distribution centres, run by four Italian nationals, who have been reported for copyright and intellectual property infringements.
At least two of the four accused reinvested the proceeds in cryptocurrency or life insurance policies, leading to the serious charge of self-laundering. The seized assets are worth around €650,000.
According to investigators, the pirated subscriptions provided access to content from Sky, DAZN, NOW TV, Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify. Affordable prices, ranging from €10 to €40, bespoke packages and even a customer service helpline for those who couldn’t get the service to work. A counterfeit shop that mimicked the genuine one as closely as possible.
