La Liga will not be able to prosecute people for watching pirated football, justice confirms

Last week, a huge stir was caused by a ruling of the Commercial Court No. 8 of Barcelona, ​​which allegedly granted powers League pursue those who saw pirate football. IN Hypertext We have already explained to you that this is not actually the case, and now the judiciary has ratified it.

In a press release, the court confirmed that the request for information from Internet operators is intended to identify distributors of pirated content rather than the end users who consume it. Practice that is under the microscope cardsharing. That is, redistribution without the permission of the parties, which allows offenders to receive illegal profits.

It is clear that the judiciary wants to bring clarity to an issue that has caused controversy and even fear among the public. Let us recall that it was initially stated that operators would have to provide La Liga with IP addresses and numerous personal data (first and last name, address, etc.) of all people who watch pirate football. Which had nothing to do with reality.

As is now clear, what LaLiga presented was a request for due diligence to attack cardsharing. In particular, that operators provide IP data obtained legally by La Liga and associated with people who they provide pirate footballand not with those who consume it.

This is what justice shows:

“He cardsharing This is a practice in which legitimate users relay the signal to certain “pirate” networks in which all participants, including those who only abuse the quota, use decoders.

The description of this practice allows us to conclude that actions are taken to provide access to or disseminate, directly or indirectly, content, works or benefits to which audiovisual rights apply. These actions, which constitute the basis for consent to the requested pre-screening, can only be performed cardsharerswho relay the signal and profit from it, and not just end users.

Thus, the operative part of the Order issued by the magistrate of the Commercial Court 8 of Barcelona requires television operators to provide personal data only of those who illegally share their content, that is, only those who cardsharers who redistribute the signal to third parties and make a profit from it, and not those who only deceive the commission.”

Judicial system of Spain

Clarification from the judiciary following the controversy over La Liga and pirate football

Thus, what we have been telling you in recent days is confirmed. Auto’s goal is to identify suppliers of pirate football, not consumers. Likewise, the court explains that any hypothetical claim that may arise as a result of the preliminary proceedings can only be directed against the persons responsible for cardsharing.

Javier Tebas, President of La Liga, has spoken out on several occasions in the past about the rise in piracy at sporting events and the need for action to combat it. In 2023, the aforementioned stated that pirate football consumption increased by 4% compared to the previous season. He also warned of the existence of a large number of iOS and Android apps that allow illegal access to matches, which have been downloaded by millions in Europe.

A few days ago Tebas mentioned the pirate football incident in interview with Movistar Plus+. He indicated that telecommunications companies will have to provide data relating to a number of IP addresses, which will be provided by the La Liga anti-piracy group. In addition, he stated that he would not impose a fine on those responsible for the crime. cardsharing, but a claim for damages.