On November 27, the Athens Three-Member Court of Appeal for Misdemeanors sentenced an individual to a 5-month prison term for using pirate pay-TV services.

The court dismissed the defendant’s claims that they were unaware their subscription was illegal and did not understand the destination of their payments over the years. The judges highlighted that pay-TV has been a well-established service in Greece for many years, making it implausible for anyone to believe that accessing its content does not require a contract with authorized providers. The defendant’s arguments were deemed unconvincing and insincere.

Additionally, the court rejected the defense’s assertion that the harm caused by piracy was insignificant. The judges emphasized the substantial damage inflicted by piracy on various levels, ruling that its impact cannot be considered “minor.”

This ruling underscores the Greek judiciary’s firm stance against media piracy, reflecting the serious consequences for individuals who choose to engage in illegal streaming or broadcasting activities.

Evidence presented at the trial highlighted the severe economic and social repercussions of pay-TV piracy. These include significant revenue losses for the Greek state due to uncollected VAT and taxes, as well as the circulation of illicit funds. Greek society also suffers from job losses and the lack of proper remuneration for creators and artists.

Moreover, piracy contributes to rising crime rates, as pirate organizations often operate with structured criminal networks involved in various illegal activities. For legitimate providers, the financial impact is devastating, with substantial revenue losses and a decline in the quality of services offered to consumers.

source : skai.gr

Accourding to sources, it is unlikely the user will actually serve prison time. Instead, it is likely the sentence will be suspended for a number of years, and will only come into effect should there be any other offences committed.