A Reuters report states that the US Government shut down 16 web sites related to the illegal streaming of live sports. The sites provided links to pirated sites where viewers could watch sports including NBA, NFL, WWE and TNA pro wrestling for free.
The sweep of illegal sites is in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday. Who watches the Super Bowl via illegal streaming? The article reports that Tom Brady actually used an illegal web site last year in Costa Rica to watch the Packers-Steelers Super Bowl.
The feds arrested a Michigan man who was charged with one count of criminal copyright infringement. Its alleged that he ran several of the pirate sites receiving $13,000 from online merchants who advertised with him. The man was caught as a federal agent posed as a WWE representative seeking to buy a domain from the man.
Payout Perspective:
The crackdown on illegal sites should appease the WWE and the UFC in its constant effort to curb piracy. The article provides some interesting insight on the business behind illegal streaming. The ad revenue seems small considering the risk one may take for running such a site.
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