SHARJAH // Illegal decoders have been confiscated and three shops shut down in anti-piracy raids jointly staged by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) and the television provider OSN.
Shop owners were fined after inspectors found they were providing illegal TV services.
Analysts say piracy costs the industry about US$500 million (Dh1.8 billion) each year.
Building owners in the area have since been warned about distributing illegal services, such as Dish TV, Airtel, Digital TV, Sun Direct and Tatasky.
Bader Al Salman, SEDD’s acting deputy director for commercial control and protection, said: “We view TV piracy as a serious offence that violates intellectual property rights and causes huge losses to our economy. Fines will be imposed and products will be confiscated if any violation is brought to our attention. We encourage people to voluntarily refrain from accessing unauthorised TV services.”
David Butorac, the chief executive of OSN – the biggest TV service provider in the Mena region – said: “It is important to be constantly vigilant to the new techniques illegal operators adopt, to strengthen our drive to eradicate TV piracy.”
Sharjah shops selling illegal TV decoders shut down | The National
Shop owners were fined after inspectors found they were providing illegal TV services.
Analysts say piracy costs the industry about US$500 million (Dh1.8 billion) each year.
Building owners in the area have since been warned about distributing illegal services, such as Dish TV, Airtel, Digital TV, Sun Direct and Tatasky.
Bader Al Salman, SEDD’s acting deputy director for commercial control and protection, said: “We view TV piracy as a serious offence that violates intellectual property rights and causes huge losses to our economy. Fines will be imposed and products will be confiscated if any violation is brought to our attention. We encourage people to voluntarily refrain from accessing unauthorised TV services.”
David Butorac, the chief executive of OSN – the biggest TV service provider in the Mena region – said: “It is important to be constantly vigilant to the new techniques illegal operators adopt, to strengthen our drive to eradicate TV piracy.”
Sharjah shops selling illegal TV decoders shut down | The National
