Loolbox profits by stealing our signal and selling it to consumers, while using those same consumers’ home Internet to further transmit our programming to additional consumers
Aug 8, 2016--In its latest effort to further combat piracy, DISH has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the “Loolbox” streaming device, which unlawfully retransmits numerous Arabic TV channels. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and names Defendants Lool Tech Co., Limited and Shenzhen Bilinren Technology Co., Ltd., d/b/a Shenzhen Lool Tech Co., Ltd.
As outlined in the complaint, makers of the Loolbox device are capturing broadcasts of Arabic television channels that are licensed exclusively to DISH in the United States, including Al Jazeera Arabic News, MBC1, MBC Drama and MBC Kids. The Defendants then unlawfully retransmit those channels to consumers who have purchased the Loolbox set-top box.
Consumers access the channels through a feature on Loolbox called “Live TV,” which is used to retransmit programming over the Internet to users in real time, nearly simultaneously with the content’s original authorized transmission. Loolbox achieves this in several ways, including by capturing signals of the channels without authorization and using a peer-to-peer network to distribute the signal to other users.
“Loolbox profits by stealing our signal and selling it to consumers, while using those same consumers’ home Internet to further transmit our programming to additional consumers," said Fares Akkad, head of distribution and digital business development, MBC Group. "While the Loolbox may seem like an attractive deal, it is a scam that consumers should avoid if they want programming that is high-quality, reliable and legal. We commend DISH for their efforts to combat piracy and provide consumers with an affordable, viable source of entertainment."
Earlier this year, DISH and several programmers filed a suit against makers of the h.tv device for unlawful transmission of Chinese programming. DISH also filed a lawsuit against Greek content provider Ellas TV alleging that it and its owner obtained a DISH satellite receiver and proceeded to redistribute DISH’s Sport Plus channel to Ellas TV’s own streaming television service without authorization.
A copy of the Loolbox complaint can be found here, and a copy of the Ellas TV complaint can be found here. More detail on the h.tv complaint, including the filing, can be found here.
DISH is represented in the Loolbox and Ellas TV lawsuits by the law firm of Hagan Noll & Boyle LLC. DISH is represented in the h.TV lawsuit by the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 13.593 million pay-TV subscribers, as of June 30, 2016, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. DISH offers a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com.
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