Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a catch-all term for any television broadcast over the Web rather than by more traditional means.
There are actually many different forms of IPTV. These include:
- Online TV providers only like Sling TV, DirecTV and PlayStation Vue.
- Applications from TV networks such as BBC iPlayer and FOX Now that offer both live TV and video on demand.
- Online TV channels only such as Cheddar TV.
- Websites that offer free live TV.
- Plugins for applications like Kodi, Plex and Emby.
- Third party subscription IPTV services.
Finally, even if they don’t broadcast live, video on demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are also IPTV.
Is IPTV legal?
And so, to the main question: is IPTV legale? The answer: it depends.
Let’s take a look at some of the different types of IPTV that we looked at in the previous section to determine if they are legal or not.
First, online TV providers only. Naturally, they are entirely legal. All channels are fully licensed from their respective sources.
Indeed, there is a surprising overlap between the different services and the existing telecommunications companies. Hulu is partly owned by Disney, AT&T and Comcast. AT&T also owns DirecTV and Dish owns Sling TV.
The own apps of TV networks and online TV channels are also completely legal (although you should be aware that bypassing app blocking efforts is often contrary to terms and conditions and may result in a ban).
Illegal IPTV Subscription Services
The last category concerns IPTV subscription services. If you know where to look on sites like Reddit, you can find dozens of IPTV providers who charge between $ 5 and $ 20 per month to access live TV channels from around the world.
Often the providers are surprisingly sophisticated, with web apps, apps for devices like Android TV and Roku, and even full-fledged TV guides.
It goes without saying that these services are illegal. The providers of these services face prosecution. There is a clear precedent for authorities who prefer to initiate legal proceedings against downloaders rather than against downloaders.
Watch Illegal IPTV In France
Watching iptv France, watching illegal flows is definitely illegal since a decision rendered in April 2017 by the EU Court of Justice. He ruled that distributing copyrighted material without the proper permissions or subscriptions was breaking the law.
There are now many examples of volume litigation on the continent. If a copyright owner discovers the IP address of someone watching an illegal feed, they can withdraw a court order to force the user’s ISP to disclose their personal information. From there, rights holders will contact the viewer and threaten them with legal action unless they pay a settlement.
Dig into a few online forums, and you can find stories from people who have incurred hefty fines.