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A pirate IPTV reseller who operated a service called “IPTV is Easy” has been fined €30,000 for contempt of court after destroying evidence and refusing to comply with High Court orders.
David Dunbar of Co Wexford generated nearly €500,000 in profits from his IPTV operation before Sky shut him down.
Sky’s Investigation Leads to Court Orders
Sky’s investigation began in November 2024 after discovering social media accounts selling unauthorized IPTV boxes. The Federation Against Copyright Theft provided an anonymous tip that helped Sky connect Dunbar to the operation.
On May 16, Sky obtained court orders requiring Dunbar to preserve evidence and allow property access. When Sky’s legal team arrived on May 21, Dunbar refused entry unless police were present.
Evidence Destruction and Non-Compliance
Despite warnings about potential prison time, Dunbar violated court orders by:
- Destroying all computer data
- Deleting Telegram customer support accounts
- Selling his car and transferring funds
- Shutting down the entire IPTV service
Sky’s monitoring showed Dunbar’s customer support Telegram channel with 543 members disappeared by afternoon on May 21.
Business Operations and Consequences
Court documents revealed Dunbar operated as a reseller, selling subscriptions directly and through sub-sellers who earned profit percentages. After seeking advice from his upstream provider “MBM” on Discord, he was immediately blocked and cut off.
Court Judgment
Justice Mark Sanfey found Dunbar guilty of contempt, calling his actions “a gross affront to the integrity of the court.” However, the judge chose a fine over prison time, considering Dunbar had already consented to €480,000 in damages plus legal costs.
The judge emphasized future violators shouldn’t expect similar leniency, stating Dunbar “came very close indeed to being sent to prison.”
Final Thoughts
This case demonstrates how vulnerable illegal IPTV operations are to discovery through simple tip-offs from copyright enforcement groups.
While Dunbar’s operation is shut down, hundreds of similar pirate IPTV resellers continue operating across Europe and beyond.
Copyright holders like Sky will likely continue their aggressive pursuit of these services, making the financial risks extremely high for anyone considering this business model.
For more details on this story, refer to the official court judgement (PDF) and the local report from Irish Legal News.
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