Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Popular IPTV app blocked in new 'track and trace' system

Home> Entertainment> TV

Updated 14:58 23 Apr 2024 GMT+1Published 14:59 23 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Popular IPTV app blocked in new 'track and trace' system

The IPTV crackdown is well underway, but there's one strange thing about the app in question

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

A crackdown on illegal streaming is well underway with one popular IPTV app blocked for millions. But the weird thing about this one is the app carries zero illegal streams.

Over in the United States, eight massive media firms - including Netflix, Paramount, Disney and Amazon - have launched a massive legal case over IPTV and illegal streaming primarily through jailbroken Amazon Fire TV Sticks. This is where Internet Protocol television is used to supply premium content for free or through a cheaper, third party subscription that doesn't own the copyright to the content being paid for.

With calls to take the case to trial, it could result in hefty fines for those accused of illegal streaming with up to $150,000 in damages available for every piece of copyright infringement.

The case in the US isn't the only recent push back against piracy, with efforts in Italy hitting a major milestone through its game-changing Piracy Shield system.

Advert

And in Spain, a landmark ruling has been passed allowing those holding the copyright of premium content to track and trace IPTV suppliers before being issued with fines for 'damages'.

Barcelona's Commercial Court Number Eight passed the ruling earlier this year in what was a major blow to illegal streaming in Spain concerning the country's top flight football competition, La Liga.

Watching premium sport on IPTV is illegal. (Getty Stock Images)
Watching premium sport on IPTV is illegal. (Getty Stock Images)

Confusion has been rife over exactly who can be tracked under the new lawful measures, with President of La Liga, Javier Tebas Medrano, suggesting those watching - not just supplying - were at risk.

One thing that is for certain is that broadband suppliers now have to work with La Liga when it comes to cracking down on IPTV.

Advert

It means companies such as Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MasMovil and Digi have had to hand over details relating to illegal streaming on their networks.

And now, it seems that broadband suppliers are moving to block IPTV apps on their networks.

According to reports in Spain, one popular IPTV app - Smart IPTV - has stopped working for no apparent reason.

It was then shown that the IPTV service had been blocked for legal reasons by the vast majority of internet providers across Spain.

IPTV is used for piracy means by millions. (Getty Stock Images)
IPTV is used for piracy means by millions. (Getty Stock Images)

Advert

The blockage was reported earlier this month, with users who pay the service's €5 sign up fee unable to watch.

It's similar to what happened with another streaming platform called Ace Stream, with its servers blocked by internet suppliers.

The problem with blocking Smart IPTV is that it doesn't host any illegal streaming channels, shows, or movies.

Available on the Google Play store, it says: "The application does not contain any channels, you have to add your own."

But the IPTV crackdown in Spain isn't concerned with apps that are perfectly legal.

Advert

An IPTV crackdown is under way (Getty Stock Images)
An IPTV crackdown is under way (Getty Stock Images)

As per La Liga's own wording, the league says apps such as Smart IPTV 'allow the consumption of an innumerable amount of audiovisual contents such as sports, movies, and series TV channels'.

"In other words, this problem affects the entire audiovisual and entertainment industry in general," it adds.

Essentially it seems the app has been blocked due to the pre-emptive risk that people will then use it for illegal means.

The owners of Smart IPTV are now working around the blockage, with a hope it will soon be back online.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Crime, Film, TV, TV and Film, Technology, World News

Tom Earnshaw
Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible Group in 2024, currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible, UNILAD, SPORTbible, Tyla, UNILAD Tech, and GAMINGbible. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

X

@TREarnshaw

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Oasis fans in shock after hearing soundcheck for first gig in 16 years this week

    Liam and Noel Gallagher are back with their Live '25 Tour on Friday (4 July)

    Entertainment
  • 8 hours ago

    Will it be illegal to watch controversial film as UK government contemplates terrorism ban

    The documentary covers the work of Palestine Action who look set to be proscribed as a terror organisation

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Netflix's strict three point policy explained after u-turn banning subscribers from watching Line of Duty

    Netflix have reversed a decision on a popular BBC show

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Ex-reality star says she has been 'free from masturbation' for 10 years

    Madison Prewett has revealed that she's led a life without porn of self-pleasure for the last decade

    Entertainment
  • Alleged IPTV reseller could pay $1,125,000,000 in damages as new lawsuit filed
  • IPTV crackdown ‘will see you automatically fined up to £4,200’
  • ‘Historic’ moment as 'man is jailed' for subscribing to illegal IPTV service
  • IPTV users given WhatsApp warning after signing up to illegal streaming site