Three men, aged 43 to 57, were ordered jointly and severally on Wednesday to pay more than 7 million euros in damages to Canal +, BeIN Sports and RMC Sports by the Rennes criminal court for having fueled for several years illegal sports streaming sites.
Two other defendants, aged 49 and 44, were also ordered to pay damages relating to part of the sum.
The five men had appeared in March 2020 before the specialized interregional jurisdiction of Rennes (Jirs) and had been convicted in criminal proceedings, in June of the same year, to penalties ranging from a fine of 5,000 euros suspended to 12 months in prison, including six suspended sentences.
They provided access to live videos of sports programs and events reserved for subscribers of pay channels.
Advertising revenue
In 2017, the investigators went back to the administrator, who had taken care to use several nominees and false addresses ... but had given his personal phone number.
This father, passionate about football, would have received at least 230,000 euros used to finance real estate as well as many trips.
The main sites, managed by the five men, had attracted no less than 7.5 million visitors in three years, according to Médiamétrie.
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This attendance generated advertising revenue mainly captured by the one who had been presented by the court as "the thinking head".
During the hearing on civil interests in January 2021, the television channels claimed more than 91 million euros in material and moral damage.