The Wrestling Observer reports that Zuffa is taking a familiar strategy in going after online piracy. In Zuffa’s lawsuit against illegal streaming web site Greenfeedz, Zuffa has obtained Greenfeedz user information which may lead to Zuffa going after the users.
Its alleged that Greenfeedz illegally streamed PPVs UFC 130 through 142. The web site has been shut down. As part of the legal action, Zuffa has obtained information of users of the web site which may lead to tracking down the users that viewed illegal streams of the UFC events on Greenfeedz. No action has been taken yet against any individual that used Greenfeedz.
Payout Perspective:
The Zuffa strategy is reminiscent of rock band Metallica’s legal battle against Napster in the late 1990s-2000s. Metallica sued Napster for copyright infringement and as an offspring of the litigation Metallica sued three universities (USC, Yale and Indiana University). The colleges were brought into the litigation as Metallica claimed that the universities were complicit to copyright infringement by not blocking Napster on its campus computers. Metallica also obtained information on 335,435 Napster users which it requested Napster block from its service as copyright infringers. In its lawsuit against the three colleges, Metallica (and Dr. Dre, another plaintiff) included slots for unnamed students in its lawsuit which it claimed would add as defendants later. It could have took the extra step in suing the users but eventually did not.
We will see if Zuffa will follow through with suing users of the illegal streaming web site. Based upon Zuffa’s strong stance against piracy, it could sue users as an example. Similar to the Metallica situation, Zuffa hopes that the threat of suing end users will dissuade some from visiting the likes of Greenfeedz.
Not going to happen.
The Wrestling Observer article says it was UFC 130 to 142, so all 13 events.
Is there even a mechanism in the law that allows companies to pursue end-users of illegally distributed content on the internet? Sounds like they would send a threatening letter asking for a settlement, but wouldn’t actually take someone to court if they refused to pay. If the case went to court and it was dismissed, it would set a huge precedent and would prevent companies from making disparaging threats like this in the future. Risky move if they actually go through with it.
Viewers of any illegally streamed content are in violation of US copyright laws, and will be found liable for the costs of the content as offered to the public plus attorney fees, in most cases, if the viewing can be sufficiently linked to the defendant, and no valid defense can be made. The real issue is whether most of the illegal streamers will have the funds to pay back UFC, the answer is probably not. Also there is the public relations aspect; i.e. the Metallica effect, that UFC must consider.
UFC won’t sue anybody. This is just a scare tactic.
Nobody cares about this garbage product anyhow.
Then why are you on this site Sampson? Only 2 options. A you like the sport of MMA. B as a obvious boxing fan you feel your sport is being threatened by a better product.
classic fear mongering,too bad it won’t work.
Shill away
If that Greenfeedz website was charging a fee of some kind to watch their stream and the viewers were paying then that is the only way I see any kind of lawsuit moving forward against the viewers instead of just the streamer.
Mr. Simpson lives under the same bridge as Joe.
US laws.I’m not in the US so the UFC can get stuffed
lol you people need to be quiet, why can’t you folks absolutely see that copyright infringement is illegal. Would you like it if someone stole money from you? Please be quiet and don’t try to debate it because their is nothing you can say to back it up. Zuffa warned everyone not to mess with them and steal their pay per views, and you people laughed in their faces. I don’t see anyone laughing now, the registered users of that site better be affraid, because they are all going to get sued.