Media industry stakeholders are seeking to stamp out the little guys in court with a hefty copyright lawsuit. Retailers of internet set-top boxes — those cheap TV devices from China that allow you to stream any channel or movie you want to — are being dragged into a private prosecution case launched by local telcos SingTel and StarHub, along with media giants Fox Networks Group and the organizing body of the English Premier League (EPL).

TODAY reported that the director of set-top box distributor Synnex Trading and the director of An-Nahl, a retailer that used to sell Synnex’s devices, were each charged with “willfully infringing” copyright under the Copyright Act. Synnex director Jia Xiaofeng and An-Nahl director Abdul Nagib Abdul Aziz both face up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of S$20,000.

This would be the first time the retailers of such devices are being seriously pursued for alleged copyright infringements. The set-top boxes come preloaded with an Android operating system and various apps that allow users to stream pirated films, television shows, and live sports telecasts for a certain subscription fee. In essence, the retailers of the devices simply sell the hardware that is capable of — and is built for — accessing pirated content, but technically, they aren’t responsible for what their customers use it for.

It’s a grey area that has allowed makers and retailers such as Synnex and An-Nahl to openly sell the set-top boxes in Sim Lim Square and IT exhibitions. The rampant use of such devices in Asia sparked the establishment of the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) last year, with major entertainment companies such as Disney, Fox, HBO, BBC Worldwide and more teaming up to eliminate “illicit streaming devices” across the region.

“The prevalence of (illicit streaming devices) across Asia is staggering,” said CAP general manager Neil Gane to Indian Television.

“The criminals who operate the ISD networks and the pirate websites are profiting from the hard work of talented creators, seriously damaging the legitimate content ecosystem as well as exposing consumers to dangerous malware.”

First of the gang to perish

In any case, Synnex and An-Nahl will be the first of many set-top box retailers to be dragged to court over copyright infringement. Lawyers who spoke to TODAY noted that the case could be a landmark opportunity for the court to clarify legal positions on the law concerning such devices.

Nagib intends to claim trial and will be engaging a lawyer, with a court appearance scheduled for Jan 26. Jia is still discussing his next steps with his lawyer, and his case will be heard in court again on Feb 2.