‘Dodgy box’ sellers in Kildare are targeted by investigators
FACT investigators delivering legal notices to suspected suspected illegal IPTV resellers. FACT and Sky have delivered legal warnings to 10 suspected illegal IPTV resellers across seven counties (Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Laois and Limerick) throughout Ireland in the latest phase of their campaign against content piracyE
KILDARE was among the seven counties which had legal warnings delivered against 10 suspected illegal dodgy box sellers, during the latest phase of an anti-piracy campaign by FACT (The Federation Against Copyright Theft).
Illegal IPTV resellers sell subscriptions directly to members of the public, giving them unauthorised access to premium television, films and live sport.
The latest enforcement action targeted individuals operating across Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Laois and Limerick. The legal warnings were served to the 10 resellers after FACT and Sky investigations identified the individuals and their addresses.
These cease-and-desist notices instructed those targeted to stop selling illegal IPTV subscriptions, commonly known as ‘dodgy boxes’, immediately or risk further action, including civil proceedings or referral to the Gardaí. Collectively, the services are believed to have supplied thousands of end-users and those accessing illegal services should be aware that their details may be identified and passed to authorities.
The latest campaign places the focus on the supply of illegal subscriptions, demonstrating that resellers continue to face investigation and potential legal action as part of the wider effort to disrupt piracy across Ireland.
Recent criminal and civil cases in Kildare demonstrate that operators of illegal streaming services face serious consequences.
In July 2024, Naas Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ciaran Donovan, the Kildare-based operator of the King Kong Media illegal streaming service, to three years and four months in prison, with the final two years suspended. This resulted in an immediate custodial sentence of 16 months for money laundering offences involving more than €900,000 in criminal proceeds linked to the operation.
The impact is not limited to those running the services. Illegal streaming can also leave customers exposed to malware, fraud, scams, and theft of personal or financial information. As the services operate outside legitimate consumer protections, users may lose access without warning and have no formal route to support or a refund.
FACT supports BeStreamWise, a consumer awareness campaign formed by organisations across the television, film and sports industries. The campaign explains the risks associated with illegal streaming and directs viewers towards legitimate ways to access the content they enjoy.
