Tricolor TV, one of the largest pay TV operators of Russia, continues searching after and fighting against satellite pirates both on the territory of Russia and other neighbour countries.
In 2014 the law enforcement authorities in several Russian regions stopped the attempts of spreading illegal software and smart cards. That work resulted in filing suits against delinquents, eight case materials were submitted to trial, the convictions were put forward on seven cases, and three cases are still under investigation. Based on the judgements, the company’s management also brought in four civil actions against delinquents.
But Dmitriy Sigalov, head of the company’s legal department, called the most substantial achievement the first bringing to the trial in the Republic of Belarus a criminal case against pirate server’s owner.
In the near future the court will issue its verdict regarding this trial. Under the Belorussian laws, if the offender’s guilt is proved, so he faces a two-year term of imprisonment.
For all that, Tricolor TV’s employees place importance on differentiating pirates between organizers who own pirate servers, and device installers who are just performers. In such situations the company convicted delinquents, or dismissed the case at its own discretion if the accused person agreed to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities and to reimburse damages. Such cases already took place in Ivanovo, Tambov, Elista and Ryazan.
Tricolor TV also fights against unauthorized access to the TV channels’ content in Internet: over the past year it made closing 105 pirate resources.
It didn’t left aside the infringement of copyright and related rights in the field of public demonstration in public facilities or hotels without broadcasting contracts concluded. Thus, during the revision of 457 establishments there were revealed 68 violations in Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Stavropol, Volgograd and Krasnodar.
Those cable operators engaged in Tricolor TV’s unauthorized broadcasting will be also subject to revisions. A criminal case was initiated against pay TV operator form Novocherkassk suspected in unauthorized rebroadcasting. And during the trial it was given notices of claim by the affected rights holders.
