DISH Sues Tanggula IPTV Box Sellers for Copyright Violations

DISH Network and Sling TV have escalated their fight against pirate IPTV by targeting the Hong Kong-based manufacturers behind popular Tanggula TV boxes in a new federal lawsuit.

Tanggula IPTV Boxes Under Legal Fire

DISH Network and Sling TV have filed a new federal lawsuit targeting the makers of popular Tanggula TV boxes.

The streaming giants are going after Strongtimes International Limited, a Hong Kong-based company, and its alleged owner Liu Zihong for selling IPTV boxes to thousands of US customers.

The lawsuit claims the defendants sold 3,684 Tanggula services to American buyers, with 671 shipments going to California addresses.

These boxes supposedly offer “lifetime” subscriptions for around $200 upfront, promising free access to premium content forever.

The Business Model Behind Pirate IPTV

The Tanggula operation follows a common pattern in the IPTV world. Customers can either pay monthly fees of $10-15 or buy devices with supposed lifetime access for $200 or more.

These boxes often target cord-cutters looking to save money on expensive cable and streaming bills.

YouTube and social media platforms show plenty of positive Tanggula reviews, though it’s unclear whether these come from satisfied customers or paid affiliate marketers.

The company has built a strong online presence despite operating in legal gray areas.

Legal Claims and Violations

DISH and Sling TV are pursuing three main legal claims against the defendants:

• DMCA Violations: The lawsuit alleges Strongtimes violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by trafficking devices that circumvent content protection systems. Each box sale represents a separate violation.
• Privacy Law Breaches: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act claims focus on how the defendants allegedly intercept and redistribute protected communications without authorization.
• Willful Infringement: The plaintiffs argue both defendants knew about the violations but continued operations anyway, even after receiving cease and desist notices.

Previous Lawsuit Outcomes

This isn’t DISH’s first rodeo with Tanggula sellers. Since late 2023, the company has secured significant judgments against US-based vendors:

• Marcelino Padilla: $1.25 million settlement
• Valenzuela case: $405,000 judgment
• Sentry, Inc.: Confidential settlement amount

These cases show DISH’s commitment to pursuing both manufacturers and retailers in the pirate IPTV supply chain.

Legal IPTV Box Alternatives

Instead of risking legal troubles with pirate IPTV devices, cord-cutters have several legitimate Android TV/Google TV Boxes to choose from.

Our top choices include the Onn 4K Plus from Walmart and BuzzTV devices. The Google TV Streamer, MECOOL, Formuler Z11, and NVIDIA Shield are also high-quality devices.

Final Thoughts

The Tanggula lawsuit represents a new phase in the streaming wars, with content companies going after international suppliers instead of just local resellers.

While these devices promise big savings for consumers, the legal risks for both sellers and buyers continue to mount.

Anyone considering these “lifetime” IPTV services should understand the potential consequences before making a purchase.

For more information on this story refer to the legal documentation (PDF) and the report from TorrentFreak.

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