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Singapore – A seller of Illegal Streaming Devices (ISDs) in Sim Lim Square was sentenced today in relation to 34 charges selling ISDs that provided s with illegal access to copyrighted content. That content included Premier League football matches, as well as movies and TV shows belonging to of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s leading anti-piracy coalition.
This is the second case brought under section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021, which imposes criminal liability for the sale of ISDs.
Wang Yue, a 35-year-old Chinese national, Director of Ace Technologies Pte Ltd, who pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing on 20 March, was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment in relation to 17 charges. His company received fines of SGD $181,000 in relation to 17 charges.
This is the second sentencing following Singapore Police Force raids on ISD sellers in Sim Lim Square in 2022 where police arrested 17 people and seized more than 2,500 ISDs. The first prosecution from these raids took place last October when a 37-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay fines of SGD $300,000 in what was a landmark prosecution. The Premier League and ACE have ed the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force throughout the case.
This second successful prosecution strengthens the legal precedent for future enforcement actions to combat piracy in Singapore and serves as a strong reminder that selling and distributing pirated content is a serious crime.
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb said: “This latest sentencing is a clear indication that the fight against piracy in Singapore is not slowing down and there are serious consequences for those found guilty of supplying illegal streaming devices. This case once again sends a message to pirates that their activity will not be tolerated and reminds consumers that buying these devices is a problem.
“There are still more cases to follow from the significant raids in 2022 and we thank the Singapore Attorney-General Chambers and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force for their commitment to these investigations and prosecutions.
“We will continue to work closely with the local law enforcement authorities to take action against piracy in the region. This is an important part of our continued work as we remain committed to raising awareness among fans of the risks associated with using illegal streaming services.”
Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association (MPA), said: “We commend the Singapore Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB) of the Singapore Police Force for another successful prosecution of sellers of ISDs under Section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act. ACE remains committed to working closely with the Singapore authorities in the fight against digital piracy and the effective protection of the creative industry.”
ACE and the Premier League will continue working closely with local, regional and global law enforcement agencies and authorities to safeguard the integrity of entertainment content and sports, ensuring fans can access content through authorized channels.
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Media Queries
Edelman for the Premier League
Jamie Tan
Amir Ismail
Notes to editors
About the Premier League
The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.
Premier League anti-piracy action in Singapore and the region
- The Premier League, in close collaboration with its broadcast partners and authorities, actively combats piracy through a multifaceted approach. These efforts involve blocking unauthorised websites and apps, cooperating with law enforcement to pursue legal actions against providers of illegal streaming services and conducting extensive education campaigns to raise awareness about enjoying the top-quality football competition in authorised formats.
- The first-ever prosecution under section 150 of the Copyright Act 2021 took place on 24 October 2024, when Ge Xin, a 37-year-old Singaporean who ran two retail outlets – MT Gadget+ Pte Ltd and Grandnew Pte Ltd – was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in relation to eight charges under section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021. The two companies received fines of SGD$200,000 and SGD$100,000 respectively in relation to four charges each.
- Six years ago, there was no site blocking in of Premier League action; there are now nearly 16,000 sites and apps blocked across the region. In a series of orders from Singapore’s High Court, the Premier League has blocked more than 600 domains across popular pirate streaming websites and domains used by illegal apps and streaming devices in Singapore. Over 5,000 domains in Indonesia, over 2,500 in Vietnam, and almost 300 domains in Malaysia have been blocked. Across the region, last season almost 18,000 pirate service listings were removed from online marketplaces and social media platforms.
- Launched in 2020, the Premier League’s annual ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign aims to highlight the dangers of viewing illegal streams. Together with some of the biggest names in football, the Premier League speaks directly to fans across Asia, warning them of the risks of accessing Premier League matches through unauthorised channels. The campaign is showcased across broadcast channels and social media platforms in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
About the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) is the world’s leading coalition dedicated to protecting the legal creative market and reducing digital piracy. Driven by a comprehensive approach to addressing piracy through criminal referrals, civil litigation, and cease-and-desist operations, ACE has achieved many successful global enforcement actions against illegal streaming services and unauthorized content sources and their operators. Drawing upon the collective expertise and resources of more than 50 media and entertainment companies around the world—including sports channels and associations—and reinforced by the Motion Picture Association’s content protection operations, ACE protects the creativity and innovation that drives the global growth of core copyright and entertainment industries. The current governing board for ACE are Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE. For more information, visit futbollibre.mejorapp.org.
