A Thai man and a Malaysian couple have been charged with violating movie streaming copyrights as part of a cross-border investigation aimed at dismantling MyIPTV4K, a major grey-market internet protocol TV service.
The Thai suspect, identified only as Akkharawat, 33, was charged on Wednesday following an investigation that began when his house in Muang district of Chiang Mai was searched on Feb 10, said Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau.
A related search in February took place at a company in tambon Suthep of Muang district in Chiang Mai, where police found two computers, three mobile phones and evidence of payment for cloud computing services.
According to Pol Lt Gen Nathasak, the arrest was a part of an anti-piracy collaboration that involved Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, the United States and Interpol, targeting MyIPTV4K platforms.
A Malaysian couple were arrested in Selangor state in connection with the same offences, said Pol Col Puwadet Chulakasevi, an economic crime superintendent.
The couple ran a company that provided website design and sold automation and security systems as well as electrical and electronic products.
The Thai and Malaysian suspects reportedly denied all charges.
MyIPTV4K is a grey-market internet protocol TV service primarily targeting users in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
It is marketed extensively by third-party sellers on Lazada Malaysia and Lazada Singapore, with some sellers located in Malaysia or providing shipping from China.
The service requires a MyIPTV Android Box or app, and while some of the content available is legal, complaints have been mounting from copyright holders for movies, premium sports events and other content.
