Co Wexford Man Fined €480,000 for Illegal Sky Streaming Service
Court Orders Massive Payout and Threatens Jail Time for Contempt
A Co Wexford resident has been ordered to pay a staggering €480,000 in damages to Sky, conceding a High Court action brought by the broadcasting giant over his operation of an illegal streaming service.
Copyright Infringement Leads to Substantial Damages
David Dunbar, who operated a service using what are commonly known as “dodgy boxes,” agreed to the judgment after failing to contest the civil case filed by Sky UK Limited for copyright infringement. The court heard that Mr Dunbar may have amassed as much as €450,000 annually since 2018 by providing illicit access to Sky’s broadcast content to thousands of subscribers.
Breaching Court Orders Adds to Dunbar’s Woes
Beyond the damages, Mr Dunbar faces further repercussions for contempt of court. He is accused of disregarding directives aimed at preserving evidence of his copyright violations and freezing his assets. The court retains a range of sanctions, including the possibility of imprisonment, for these breaches.
“Top-Level” Infringer Faces Permanent Ban
Sky had previously identified Mr Dunbar as a “top-level” copyright infringer. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was informed of Mr Dunbar‘s consent to the reliefs sought by Sky. The judge confirmed the undeniable nature of Mr Dunbar‘s copyright infringement and mandated the payment of €480,000 in damages, plus approximately €100,000 in legal costs.
Injunctions Target Future IPTV Operations
Permanent injunctions were also granted, expressly prohibiting Mr Dunbar from ever operating an internet protocol television (IPTV) service, the technology underpinning illegal streaming boxes. Mr Justice Sanfey has reserved his decision on a motion by Sky seeking attachment and committal to prison for Mr Dunbar‘s repeated defiance of court orders.
Evidence Destruction and Contempt of Court
The court heard that Mr Dunbar failed to comply with several orders designed to secure evidence, including refusing entry for an Anton Piller order, which permits the seizure of materials from private premises. Theo Donnelly, representing Sky, argued that Mr Dunbar‘s actions constituted “clear and knowing” contempt.
“Despite this, he did not allow the solicitor to enter his premises, and proceeded to destroy evidence of his copyright infringement, among other breaches… It was hard to see how Mr Dunbar could have engaged in a more ‘clear and knowing’ contempt of the court orders.”
—Theo Donnelly, Counsel for Sky
Mr Dunbar‘s defence, presented by senior counsel Darren Lehane, acknowledged the contempt, but urged the court to consider his subsequent swift consent to judgment when determining sanctions. The case is scheduled to return to court next month.
The prevalence of illegal streaming services remains a significant challenge for content providers. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that millions of households use such services, costing the creative industries billions annually. For example, a 2023 report by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) indicated that illegal streaming services are a major drain on the UK economy, impacting legitimate revenue streams and jobs within the creative sectors (FACT UK).
