11-Year Prison Sentence Upheld for Flawless IPTV Leader

The leader of a popular pirate IPTV service, Flawless TV, has failed in his appeal against an 11-year sentence.

In May 2023, five men involved with Flawless TV were sentenced to over 30 years in prison following a private prosecution by the Premier League.

Mark Gould, the leader of the operation, received an 11-year custodial sentence, the harshest of the group.

This article covers the background of the case, Gould’s appeal, and how the Court of Appeal responded to his request for a reduced sentence.

Background of the Flawless IPTV Case

Launched in August 2016, Flawless TV was a popular IPTV service that offered live TV, including Premier League football matches, at a fraction of the cost of legal broadcasters like Sky and Virgin Media.

It was a go-to service for football fans, especially those looking to bypass the UK’s 3pm broadcasting restrictions. The platform generated around £4.6 million in revenue in just under two years, with profits of £3.7 million.

Mark Gould’s Role in Flawless TV

Mark Gould was identified as the mastermind behind Flawless TV, overseeing its operations and financial management. He personally pocketed around £1.7 million of the earnings.

After his arrest in 2018, Gould continued to offer IPTV subscriptions despite a court-imposed restraint order, which led to additional charges of contempt of court.

Sentencing and Legal Consequences

In a major win for the Premier League and legal broadcasters, Gould was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to defraud.

The remaining individuals involved in the operation received sentences that collectively totaled over 30 years. This ruling was seen as a landmark case, setting a strong example against online piracy in the UK.

Comparison to Other Fraud Cases

When compared to other high-profile fraud cases, Gould’s sentence is unusually severe. For example:

• A £53 million benefit fraud scheme led to a 25-year sentence for the offenders.
• A Ponzi scheme operator received only 6 years in prison despite defrauding victims of £44 million.
• Bernie Ecclestone, who failed to declare £416 million in assets, received a 17-month suspended sentence. (See Story)

The severity of Gould’s sentence signals a shift in how courts are treating digital piracy.

Grounds for the Appeal

Gould’s legal team argued that the financial losses attributed to legitimate broadcasters were overestimated during his trial.

They contended that the losses should have been calculated based solely on proprietary rights, not on the potential value of official subscriptions.

They also argued that Gould’s actions constituted a single conspiracy, not two separate criminal enterprises, which would have affected the severity of his sentence.

The Court of Appeal’s Response

The Court of Appeal disagreed with Gould’s claims. It ruled that Flawless TV’s business model clearly involved copyright violations, regardless of the method used to calculate losses.

The court also determined that Gould’s operational changes after his 2018 arrest indicated two distinct illegal activities, justifying consecutive sentences for each offense.

In a decisive statement, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s original 11-year sentence, stating it was neither excessive nor disproportionate to the crimes committed.

Wrapping Up

Mark Gould’s application for leave to appeal was denied, reinforcing the strict stance the UK legal system is taking against online piracy.

This case serves as a stern warning to those operating or considering the launch of similar illegal IPTV services. Even subscribers of unverified IPTV providers are already facing legal action in Europe.

For more information on this story, refer to the report from TorrentFreak.

We want to know your thoughts on this story. What do you think this prison sentence being upheld for the leader of Flawless IPTV? Let us know in the comment section below!

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