SINGAPORE: One of two shops charged ultimate January below the Copyright Act for selling Android streaming boxes pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Apr 24). Abdul Nagib Abdul Aziz, the employer director of nearby store An-Nahl, was fined S$1,2 hundred after pleading guilty to at least one charge of wilfully infringing the copyright of rights owners’ commercial advantage, while another charge was considered. This was the first time a seller of Android TV bins has been prosecuted in Singapore. The fees against his employer, An-Nahl, were withdrawn, with the court ordering a discharge amounting to an acquittal.
The 58-12 months-antique was discovered to have bought one Android TV box at one of his 5 stores in Tanjong Katong Complex and helped the consumer use the device to make unauthorized copies of copyrighted programs.
He had previously indicated via his then-legal professional Chia Boon Teck that he intended to contest the prices made against him and his organization, but he has considered that he had a change of heart. This case can be taken into consideration a landmark because the courts could not previously make clear their felony positions on the law concerning piracy and the use of those devices.
While set-top containers containing decoders that allow visitors to look at pay-TV content at no cost are illegal, the law is not as clean on the subject of Android streaming bins. These gadgets do not include any decoders, however, have apps that permit users to stream copyrighted programmes which include English Premier League matches.
The personal prosecution case becomes introduced employing four events – telcos Singtel and StarHub, Fox Networks Group, and the Premier League – even though the named complainant in this situation is Mr. Neil Kevin Gane, trendy manager of the Coalition Against Piracy. The prosecution crew was led by way of Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow’s Andy Leck and Lim Ren Jun, while Netto & Magin’s Srijit Jeshua Shashedaran represented the defendant.
“ALREADY BEEN PUNISHED”
In his mitigation plea, Mr. Srijit stated that Abdul Nagib isn’t the “major perpetrator” in the case. The An-Nahl director was brought to Jia Xiaofeng, the opposite defendant in the case, in June 2016. Jia proposed a fee of S$20 for every Android TV box sold and an extra S$five if the patron bought a media player software called Kodi, the attorney stated.
When Abdul Nagib requested information about the legality of the boxes, Jia informed him that the content furnished by using those devices was certified by Astro Malaysia. Consumers who bought the device needed to pay an annual subscription and this would move immediately to Astro Malaysia. He was instructed that Android TV containers have been “in essence, similar to YouTube”, the defendant’s legal representative said.
The 58-year-old is “actually remorseful” for his movements, Mr. Srijit added, which became visible in his actions. For instance, he stopped promoting the Android TV bins on Sep 21, 2017, while he acquired a quit-and-desist letter. He has additionally stopped buying and selling in any electrical products as he now believes he does not have sufficient knowledge in technology to ensure he does not commit another offense, the attorney delivered.
Additionally, he stated Abdul Nagib has agreed to assist in the prosecution of Jia and his company, Synnex.
He additionally argued that the director has already been punished to a large extent. “To finance this suit, he needed to sell his house and is dwelling in a rented property,” Mr. Srijit stated, calling for an “appropriate sentence” of a best among S$four hundred and S$800. The prosecution had in advance advocated the first-rate to be between S$1,000 and S$2,000.
