Court Clears 23 Pirate IPTV Users, Declares Personal Use Non-Criminal

• Judges ruled that accessing pirate IPTV services for personal use is not a criminal offense.
• As a result, 23 people accused of being subscribed to the illegal platforms were acquitted.
• Authorities could identify the individuals via payments made via traceable Postepay accounts.

A series of proceedings involving 23 individuals accused of purchasing illicit IPTV subscriptions has concluded with acquittals for all defendants. Judges presiding over two separate cases ruled that accessing pirate IPTV for personal use does not constitute a criminal offense.

The investigation began in Northern Italy, where a man was accused of operating a website that sold pirate IPTV subscriptions, granting unauthorized access to content owned by companies such as Mediaset, Sky, DAZN, and Disney. Payments for the subscriptions were made via traceable Postepay accounts.

While the European Court of Justice classified streaming pirated content as a copyright violation in 2017, Italian prosecutors escalated the matter, charging the 23 buyers with receiving stolen goods — a serious offense under criminal law.

The cases were split into two tracks. Thirteen defendants opted for an abbreviated trial format, while the remaining ten individuals were tried under separate proceedings in April and May 2023.

Prosecutors argued that the defendants knowingly profited from significantly reduced subscription fees while being aware of their illegality. Mediaset Premium added weight to the criminal proceedings, seeking €80,000 in civil compensation.

Defense attorneys countered with precedent from 2005, highlighting that violations of this nature fell within administrative, not criminal, jurisdiction. Both judges agreed, concluding that the subscription purchases were for personal use with no evidence of distribution or resale— key factors in determining criminal intent.

Judge Bianca Maria Todaro, presiding over the April hearing in Lecce, ruled that the defendants’ actions were limited to private consumption, carrying no aggravating circumstances. Similarly, Judge Roberta Maggio acquitted the remaining 13 in May, reiterating the absence of criminal liability tied to personal use. 

The applicable penalty was an administrative fine of €154, reduced by 33% for payments made within 60 days.

Under updated Italian legislation passed in 2023, end-users of unauthorized content face fines ranging from €154 to €5,000, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offense.

These rulings mark a significant precedent in how Italian courts address piracy at the end-user level. While users of pirate IPTV services remain liable for administrative sanctions, criminal enforcement appears to be reserved for aggravating cases involving resale or distribution.

In September, the Italian Authority for Communications announced plans to use an automatic solution to fine citizens who own pirate IPTV subscriptions.