ABS-CBN awarded $21 million in lawsuit vs 21 websites illegally streaming content | ABS-CBN
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ABS-CBN awarded $21 million in lawsuit vs 21 websites illegally streaming content
ABS-CBN awarded $21 million in lawsuit vs 21 websites illegally streaming content
ABS-CBN News
Published Nov 16, 2021 09:15 AM PHT
SAN FRANCISCO - A US court has ruled in favor of Filipino media and entertainment company ABS-CBN in its lawsuit against 21 websites illegally streaming ABS-CBN content.
SAN FRANCISCO - A US court has ruled in favor of Filipino media and entertainment company ABS-CBN in its lawsuit against 21 websites illegally streaming ABS-CBN content.
The order from the Court in the Southern District of Florida includes an award of damages in excess of $1 million against each of the 21 website operators. The websites associated with these illegal operations are streaming portals offering free access to ABS-CBN content in the U.S. and abroad.
The order from the Court in the Southern District of Florida includes an award of damages in excess of $1 million against each of the 21 website operators. The websites associated with these illegal operations are streaming portals offering free access to ABS-CBN content in the U.S. and abroad.
Due to the defendants’ failure to appear in court or participate in the lawsuit, the court approved ABS-CBN’s request for $1 million in trademark damages against each of the site operators. Below are the defendants by number and subject domain name:
Due to the defendants’ failure to appear in court or participate in the lawsuit, the court approved ABS-CBN’s request for $1 million in trademark damages against each of the site operators. Below are the defendants by number and subject domain name:
Additionally, six of the defendants were ordered to pay between $30,000 to $90,000 in damages for copyright infringement.
Additionally, six of the defendants were ordered to pay between $30,000 to $90,000 in damages for copyright infringement.
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Further, thefilipinochannel.su was ordered to pay another $10,000 in cybersquatting damages for its domain name, which is confusingly similar to one of ABS-CBN’s registered trademarks.
Further, thefilipinochannel.su was ordered to pay another $10,000 in cybersquatting damages for its domain name, which is confusingly similar to one of ABS-CBN’s registered trademarks.
The order includes a provision that requires advertising service providers to turn over any restrained revenue generated by the websites. These funds were previously restrained in a temporary restraining order against the defendants.
The order includes a provision that requires advertising service providers to turn over any restrained revenue generated by the websites. These funds were previously restrained in a temporary restraining order against the defendants.
The sites were also ordered to hand over their domain names to ABS-CBN so that they may no longer be used as a source for their infringing activities. If the domains’ current registrars do not comply, ABS-CBN may escalate the order to the controlling registry, which will then be instructed to put the domains on hold and remove them from the TLD zone files.
The sites were also ordered to hand over their domain names to ABS-CBN so that they may no longer be used as a source for their infringing activities. If the domains’ current registrars do not comply, ABS-CBN may escalate the order to the controlling registry, which will then be instructed to put the domains on hold and remove them from the TLD zone files.
At this time, ABS-CBN has succeeded in removing 18 of the domains at issue.
At this time, ABS-CBN has succeeded in removing 18 of the domains at issue.
“There is a way to stop pirates and the U.S. court system is making it possible,” said ABS-CBN Global Anti-Piracy and Content Security Head Elisha Lawrence.
“There is a way to stop pirates and the U.S. court system is making it possible,” said ABS-CBN Global Anti-Piracy and Content Security Head Elisha Lawrence.
"The demand for ABS-CBN content around the world remains high and many will capitalize on this illegally. They can try, but sooner rather than later, the long arm of the law will catch them.”
"The demand for ABS-CBN content around the world remains high and many will capitalize on this illegally. They can try, but sooner rather than later, the long arm of the law will catch them.”
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