KUALA LUMPUR – Another individual has been charged and fined for selling a TV box containing unauthorised Astro content, making him the seventh person this year to be prosecuted for a similar offence.
The person was fined RM10,000 after pleading guilty to the charge under Section 43AA (1)(c) of the Copyright Act 1987 at the Petaling Jaya sessions court on Wednesday, Astro Malaysia said in a statement.
Astro also listed four other cases this year that breached the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2022, a law enforced by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry the same year.
The cases similarly included the sale of devices with unauthorised content as well as the possession of unauthorised links providing access to local TV drama series.
In the previous cases of sales of TV boxes with unauthorised Astro content, two people were fined a total of RM14,000, while another individual was fined RM20,000.
Under the amendments to the Copyright Act, it is illegal to sell, offer, distribute, and supply illicit streaming devices that could provide unauthorised access to copyrighted works, which are violations of the Copyright Act.
“The key impact of the amendment is the criminalisation of selling illicit streaming devices and associated software applications that allow unauthorised access to copyrighted content.”
“Anyone found guilty can be fined up to RM200,000, imprisoned for up to 20 years, or both,” Astro said.
Astro urged the public to provide information on piracy activities to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry. – November 10, 2023