Telegram channel closed: it illegally distributed newspapers and TV series. Operation by the Guardia di Finanza in 5 regions, including Campania. 8 people investigated
They distributed newspapers and magazines published by the main Italian publishing groups but also television schedules, TV series and other paid entertainment content distributed via the Internet by the major streaming platforms.
The Financial Police of the Special Unit for the Protection of Privacy and Technological Fraud of the Guardia di Finanza of Rome have executed a seizure order for 545 resources of the well-known messaging platform Telegram, used for the abusive dissemination of intellectual works, as well as personal, IT and local searches of 8 people, residents of Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Campania.
All seriously suspected of being the administrators of the social channels that committed crimes of dissemination, through telematic networks, of editorial products protected by copyright, in competition with each other.
The investigations, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Milan, arose from a complaint initially filed by the Order of Journalists of Lombardy, which reported the illegal online distribution of copies of national newspapers and magazines.
The investigations carried out by the Fiamme Gialle specialists led to the identification of an illegal network much larger than that envisaged in the complaint, allowing them to unmask a consolidated system of unauthorised sharing and dissemination.
The uncovered illicit system, which allowed over 430.000 users registered on Telegram channels complete access — without any form of subscription or payment — to editorial content protected by copyright, ensured the suspects an illicit economic compensation, achieved through two distinct remuneration mechanisms, consisting of “affiliation”.
Namely, in the publication, on the aforementioned channels, of links to e-commerce sites, which returned to the organizers a percentage of the purchases concluded through the use of the published hyperlinks; sponsorship”, that is, in the publication of specific advertising banners on the aforementioned illicit channels, upon payment of a fee.
Article published on 6 October 2022 - 12:30
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