The operator of illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) operator ‘Outer Limits’ has been ordered to pay $15 million (around £11.1 million) in damages for failing to respond to proceedings issued against it by a coalition of Hollywood studios, Netflix, and Amazon.
A Californian federal court found that the illegal IPTV service offered access to thousands of digital movies, television series and live television channels, which were being promoted through the defendant’s YouTube channel. The complaint lodged by the coalition alleged that the defendant “made money by selling subscriptions to his Infringing Service directly to the public, but paid nothing to the Plaintiffs for the copyrighted work he exploited”.
The Judge presiding over the matter stated that the defendant wilfully infringed the claimants’ copyright works, noting that infringement ceased only for a short period of time in 2020 following receipt of a cease-and-desist notice, though re-commenced from 2021 with the defendant ignoring further correspondence from rightsholders. A permanent injunction was also granted to prohibit the defendant from infringing the Claimants’ copyright in the future.
With this matter ending in a decisive triumph for the entertainment giants, it serves as a reminder to act swiftly and definitively in the face of infringements.
If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com.
