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What is Piracy?
Types of Piracy

There are two main categories of piracy, broadcasting piracy and cyber piracy.

Broadcasting Piracy

involves the use of video and audio content without the consent of rightsholders.
It can take many forms. Select any of the below piracy types to report it.

Cable Piracy

Report

Cross-Border Piracy

Report

Commercial Piracy

Report

Public-Screening Piracy

Report

Rebroadcasting Piracy

Report

Gray-Market Piracy

Report

Cable Piracy Example: For example, a cable-service subscriber shares content with a few neighbours, or a hotel only pays for a single-dwelling subscription.

Questions for Cable Piracy:

Can you specify the region or city where this cable piracy operation is active?

How did you identify that it was a MultiChoice decoder(s) connected to this operation?

Are there any known hotels or residential compounds connected to this cable pirate operation?

Do you have the physical address or coordinates of the primary head-end (a location where they are transmitting from could be a home/office/flats) of the cable pirate operation?

Were there any specific promotional materials or advertisements promoting this cable service?

What is 10 + 1?*

Cross-Border Piracy Example: MultiChoice decoders bought under false pretences in one country and then shipped to neighbouring countries, sold and illegally connected.

Questions for Cross-Border Piracy:

Which country’s is the MultiChoice decoder being used?

Do you have evidence or have observed any decoders being transported across borders?

Have you observed any online forums or local re-sellers within your country promoting or selling decoders meant for another country?

What is 10 + 1?*

Commercial Piracy Example: Companies purchase decoders and activate them as single-unit dwelling subscriptions using false information. They then illegally transmit to multi-unit dwellings like hotels and housing complexes.

Questions for Commercial Piracy:

Can you specify the region or city where this commercial piracy is happening?

What type of venue(s) are involved (e.g., clubs, pubs, viewing centers, hotels, compounds, restaurants)?

Can you provide the specific name/address of the venues where this piracy is taking place?

Were there any promotional advertisements or signage at the venue promoting the screening of MultiChoice channels?

What is 10 + 1?*

Public-Screening Piracy Example: A residential pay-tv decoder is activated illegally for screening channels on a big screen in public areas.

Questions for Public-Screening Piracy:

Can you specify the region or city where this public piracy is active?

Are you aware of the specific equipment being used at the location?

Can you provide address of the location?

Were there any promotional materials or local advertisements promoting these illegal public screening?

What is 10 + 1?*

Rebroadcasting Piracy Example: A pirate operation illegally activates one or more pay-TV decoders, then uses them to transmit channels in an encrypted format.

Questions for Rebroadcasting Piracy:

Can you specify the region or city where this re-broadcasting piracy is active?

Are you aware of the specific equipment being used for these broadcasts?

Can you provide addresses or coordinates of any known locations broadcasting these channels without a subscription?

Were there any promotional materials or local advertisements promoting these illegal broadcasts?

What is 10 + 1?*

Gray-Market Piracy Example: The sale of content-browsing devices that are not approved for sale in a particular market.

Questions for Gray-Market Piracy:

What pay television operator decoders are being sold e.g., beIN Sports/Canal+/Sky Sports/OpenView (OVHD)?

Have you personally seen or know of someone who is selling above mentioned decoders?

Were any online platforms or social media channels advertising the sale of the above-mentioned decoders?

Can you provide physical addresses related to this piracy type?

What is 10 + 1?*

Cyber Piracy

or internet piracy is the biggest threat to content owners, broadcasters and operators. The content most often pirated via the internet is software, music, literature and video, including live sports and the latest series and movies.

Internet piracy can be conducted via devices like decoders, computers and laptops, but with more powerful mobile devices, a smartphone alone can be used for sophisticated cyber piracy. Select any of the below piracy types to report it.

Stream Ripping

IPTV Piracy

File-Sharing Piracy

Webcasting Piracy

Stream Ripping Example: Recording a stream from a legitimate source onto a file, then re-streaming it for advertising or subscriber income. E.g. Recording a YouTube stream of a music artist, then selling the music as an original recording

Questions for Stream Ripping Piracy:

Are you aware of specific content or shows that are being illegally streamed?

Can you describe how you came across this illegal streaming platform?

Are there any social media channels or online forums promoting these illegal streaming platforms?

Are there subscription fees associated with accessing this illegal streaming platform?

Can you provide any specific links, URLs, or domain names where this streaming is taking place?

Have you noticed any online ads or promotional materials related to these illegal streaming platforms?

What is 10 + 1?*

IPTV Piracy Example: The sale of subscriptions to multiple channels using streaming-enabled hardware. E.g. A user buys an open-source media player, and then pays a monthly subscription to unauthorised channel providers to be able to watch hundreds, or even thousands, of international channels over the internet.

Questions for IPTV Piracy:

What platform have you noticed MultiChoice pirated content?

Can you provide a specific link to the social media platform or website?

What type of content is being pirated?

Are there subscription fees associated with accessing this illegal streaming platform?

Can you provide any specific links, URLs, or domain names where this streaming is taking place?

Have you noticed any online ads or promotional materials related to these illegal streaming platforms?

What is 10 + 1?*

File-Sharing Piracy Example: Users illegally download compressed versions of content, then join a peer-to-peer network where they download files from each other’s computers. E.g. A user downloads a Hollywood movie, and then shares it over a peer-to-peer network.

Questions for File-Sharing Piracy:

What platform have you noticed MultiChoice pirated content?

What type of content is being pirated?

Can you provide any specific links, URLs, or domain names where this streaming is taking place?

Have you noticed any online ads or promotional materials related to these illegal streaming platforms?

What is 10 + 1?*

Webcasting Piracy Example: Delivering illicit streamed content via the web. E.g. A user downloads a sports event from a streaming site, and then rebroadcasts it as a webcast to friends or for payment.

Questions for Webcasting Piracy:

Are you aware of specific content or shows that are being illegally streamed?

Can you describe how you came across this illegal streaming platform?

Are there any social media channels or online forums promoting these illegal streaming platforms?

Are there subscription fees associated with accessing this illegal streaming platform?

Can you provide any specific links, URLs, or domain names where this streaming is taking place?

What is 10 + 1?*

To report your type of piracy via email: piracy@multichoice.com.
(Add your piracy type as the subject line)

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