BREIN Seizes Pirate IPTV Domains & GoFastIPTV Operator Sued

By iptv.legal , in News , at August 14, 2023

BREIN has seized several pirate IPTV domains, including GoFastIPTV, and the operators of that IPTV service are now being sued for damages.

The Internet is a vast world of possibilities, providing easy access to everything from valuable information to entertainment.

However, it’s also become a breeding ground for piracy, especially with the proliferation of IPTV services offering premium content at surprisingly low rates.

BREIN, the Dutch anti-piracy group, has spearheaded efforts to bring down these illegal operations, ensuring that copyright laws are upheld and creators are rewarded for their efforts.

A War Against Pirate IPTV Services

For most of us, a deal that promises premium TV shows, movies, and other media content at a fraction of the normal cost might seem enticing.

But these too-good-to-be-true deals are usually just that. BREIN has been relentlessly pursuing these pirate IPTV services, aiming to protect the interests of creators, producers, and genuine distributors.

In 2017, BREIN secured a monumental win at the European Court of Justice. The court decreed the selling of devices pre-configured to access copyrighted material as illegal.

Dubbed the “Filmspeler” decision, this ruling meant the end for many sellers of pirated streaming boxes.

With the backing of the GS Media ruling, which stated that profit-driven companies couldn’t link to copyright-infringing content, BREIN found itself with substantial legal firepower.

BREIN Shuts Down GoFastIPTV Service

Armed with these legal triumphs, BREIN targeted several illicit streaming operations.

A prime example was GoFastIPTV.eu, notorious for unauthorized access to many on-demand titles, movies, TV shows, and pay-TV channels.

Tracing its operator was no simple task. With leads stretching from the UK to Brazil, culminating at a dead-end in Portugal, it seemed the culprits would remain elusive.

However, a breakthrough came via the Dutch Rabobank used by the IPTV service for processing payments.

Though initially hesitant, the bank eventually collaborated, under court order, paving the way for BREIN to pinpoint the operator in South America.

This discovery resulted in BREIN securing a conditional €70,000 settlement. On top of this, the operator would be fined €25,000 per day if the service resumed and €10,000 for each subsequent infringement.

Tying up Loose Ends

Despite this win, there was still a piece of the puzzle missing. BREIN sought to acquire the domains associated with the IPTV service, which were, unfortunately, under the name of a scapegoat.

It took yet another court order, but finally, the domains were handed over by the EU registry. While these domains weren’t active, securing them ensured they wouldn’t be misused.

BREIN’s journey to secure these domains was anything but smooth. As BREIN director Tim Kuik points out, “The intermediaries involved could have cooperated faster… in ending this illegal trade and identifying the anonymous trader.”

Kuik’s comments reflect the challenges many anti-piracy groups face in their efforts.

A Victory, But With Caveats

As BREIN celebrates its victories, the battle against online piracy rages on. Though they’ve redirected the seized domains to a page detailing the illegality of pirate IPTV services, challenges persist.

BREIN’s use of The Pirate Bay’s sinking logo, as an illustration, might seem apt, but it’s worth noting that thepiratebay.org remains functional.

When questioned about this, Kuik acknowledged the difficulty in seizing domains, especially when dealing with entities like The Pirate Bay.

The swift resurgence of new domains after seizures means the battle is far from over.

Final Thoughts

BREIN’s unyielding stance against pirate IPTV services and its relentless pursuit will not stop.

While the war on piracy is ongoing, groups like BREIN will continue to target pirate streaming services and keep playing the huge game of “whack a mole.”

This is not the first time we have seen BREIN target IPTV services.

For more information on this story, you can view the official report from BREIN or the article from TorrentFreak.

Legal IPTV Streaming Options

IPTV Wire can’t determine whether unverified IPTV services, apps, websites, or add-ons hold the proper licensing.

If and when an IPTV service is deemed illegal, we notify our users immediately and update reports on our website like this one to reflect that information.

In conclusion, the end-user is responsible for all content accessed through free IPTV apps and paid services.

See our detailed guide below for more information on the legality of IPTV and everything you need to know before streaming.

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