June 2 – A seller of Illegal Streaming Devices (ISDs) offering unauthorised access to Premier League football matches has been sentenced to six months in prison in Singapore, in a significant anti-piracy ruling in a case supported by the Premier League and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE).
Wang Yue, a 35-year-old Chinese national and director of Ace Technologies Pte Ltd, pleaded guilty to 17 charges under Section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021, which criminalises the sale of devices that enable access to pirated content. His company was also fined SGD $181,000 ($140,000). The ISDs in question provided access not only to Premier League broadcasts but also to movies and TV shows owned by ACE members.
This marks the second successful prosecution stemming from 2022 raids on Sim Lim Square, a known hub for illicit streaming hardware. The Singapore Police Force arrested 17 individuals and seized more than 2,500 devices during the operation. The first case, concluded in October 2023, saw a 37-year-old Singaporean sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment and fined SGD $300,000 ($233,000).
]The Premier League, a long-time advocate for stronger anti-piracy enforcement globally, has worked closely with ACE and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force throughout the investigation.
This latest sentencing reinforces Singapore’s growing legal framework against content piracy and sets a strong precedent for future enforcement.
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.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1749149132labto1749149132ofdlr1749149132owedi1749149132sni@g1749149132niwe.1749149132yrrah1749149132