The compensation sought is 500 euros, designed to avert more costly future legal actions; there is a seven-day window to accept this conciliation attempt.
A camera in a stadium: Serie A matches are currently broadcast by Sky and Dazn.
The fight against TV piracy is relentless. It`s becoming increasingly difficult to illegally watch paid channels, even for those who boast about spending very little compared to a legitimate subscription. Following an anti-piracy operation conducted in May by the Lecce Guardia di Finanza, which identified and fined over 2,000 users of illegal IPTV services (known as `pezzotto`), a new and crucial phase is beginning. Rights holders, in addition to the state administrative fine of 154 euros, now intend to initiate legal action to claim compensation for damages incurred. Broadcasters have the right to know the identities of those who have violated copyright and been sanctioned, as they are considered injured parties.
The List of Offenders
In September, Dazn, Sky, and the Serie A Football League, as aggrieved parties, formally requested from judicial authorities the list of fined individuals to initiate independent compensation claims. These individuals were identified during a joint operation by the Rome Guardia di Finanza`s Special Goods and Services Unit and the Lecce Economic-Financial Police Unit, coordinated by the local Public Prosecutor`s Office. Following authorization from the competent Prosecutor`s Office, the list has now been provided.
The Conciliation Letter
Dazn has now moved forward with a formal conciliation request, aiming to keep the financial claim for damages (including reputational harm) to a minimum before any potential legal action, which the company reserves the right to pursue. As stated in the registered letter dated September 26, an “all-inclusive compensation of 500 euros, along with a formal commitment not to engage in further infringing behavior,” is sought to resolve the matter out of court. If payment is not made within seven days, Dazn will be free to initiate appropriate legal proceedings. The live streaming platform is, therefore, limiting its use of the data solely to obtain legitimate compensation for the damages incurred.
The Anti-Piracy Operation Details
The matter began with a large-scale operation by the Lecce Guardia di Finanza, coordinated by the local Public Prosecutor`s Office. The investigation, supported by Computer Forensics Data Analysis specialists, dismantled a sophisticated network illegally distributing content from pay TV platforms such as Sky, Netflix, Dazn, and others via illegal IPTV systems. The operational hub, a pirated signal distribution center located in the Salento capital, supplied thousands of users. Relentless work tracked illicit proceeds exceeding 500,000 euros, reinvested in movable and immovable assets, leading to the seizure of cars, properties, and 60,000 euros in cash. Four individuals residing in the province of Lecce, including the main suspect, were reported for copyright infringement and self-laundering. However, attention quickly shifted primarily to the end-users. Investigative activities led to the identification and official recording of 2,282 individuals across 80 Italian provinces. These users, who paid an average of about 10 euros per month for content access, initially received an administrative fine of 154 euros, as stipulated by Italian law. In many cases, these penalties were aggravated due to repeated illegal behavior.
