Before forwarding a link to free football in a messaging group, it's worth thinking carefully: The courts have once again sided with Movistar Plus+ against piracy. And it has imposed a harsh sentence on a user who used Telegram to broadcast the platform's signal without authorization. The case has become one of the clearest examples in Spain of the extent of criminal liability for illegally sharing paid content.
The resolution, issued by the Criminal Section of the Court of First Instance of Vitoria-GasteizThis represents a significant victory for Telefónica in its offensive against audiovisual fraud. The accused operated a network that offered full access to Movistar Plus+ through private Telegram channels, including LaLiga football, other sporting events, and pay-TV content, all for a fee far below the official price.
Who is the convicted person and how did he operate on Telegram?
The protagonist of the case operated on Telegram under the aliases "The Green Engineer" and "Green Engineer"Far from being an isolated user who shared sporadic links, the judicial investigation concludes that he had set up a genuine organized piracy network, with its own structure, recurring payments and a clear profit motive.
Through his private channels, this user announced access to the “complete package” of Movistar Plus+including references such as "Movistar+ Complete + Complete World TV". Subscribers to this illicit service could watch live football matches, series, films, and other paid content whose exploitation rights belong to Telefónica, even displaying the platform's logo and identifying elements.
Telegram has established itself as a particularly attractive space for this type of activity, due to the combination of crowded channels, true anonymity and simple payment systemsIn this case, the accused used the application as the main showcase and as a tool to distribute the links that gave access to pirated Movistar Plus+ broadcasts.
The court emphasizes that it was not just a matter of sharing links found on the Internet, but of a business model parallel to the official offeringThis was built on the operator's infrastructure and in unfair competition with its legal services. This consideration has been key in assessing the commission of crimes against intellectual property and against the market and consumers.
A "pirate subscription" for 80 euros a year
The investigation has allowed investigators to reconstruct the payment system that supported this network. The user offered access to all Movistar Plus+ content for 80 euros per year, or about 6,66 euros per month, a rate well below the company's official prices for football and pay TV packages.
To get an idea of the difference, the The LaLiga package from Movistar Plus+ costs around 36 euros per monthWhile plans that include "All Football" can cost around 50 euros per month, depending on the offer and the terms agreed upon. This huge price difference is precisely one of the factors that attracts thousands of users to these illegal services.
In this case, payments were mainly made through Bizum, a very widespread payment method in Spain for its speed and simplicity. The summary states that transactions totaling approximately 230.000 euros in Bizum linked to this activity, a figure that reinforces the court's theory about the existence of an organized network and not an isolated incident.
According to information disseminated by specialized media, customer recruitment was carried out through advertisements on social networks and on Telegram itself, where the accused presented himself as a provider of access to the platform "worldwide," with the promise of Watch all the football and the Movistar Plus+ catalog for a fraction of the official price.
The sentence: prison, a fine, and millions in compensation
The Criminal Section of the Court of First Instance of Vitoria-Gasteiz has imposed a sentence that combines prison sentence, financial fine and civil liabilityThe ruling states:
- Two years in prison for the accused of crimes against intellectual property and against the market and consumers.
- A fine of 6 euros per day for 15 months, which represents a significant additional expense.
- A compensation payment of 100.000 euros to Telefónica de España in respect of damages caused by the unauthorized exploitation of its contents.
Furthermore, the resolution addresses a previous four-year prison sentence that weighed on the accused. The court has agreed to suspend the actual imprisonment of that higher sentence, but it does so under very strict conditions for the coming months.
These conditions include: not committing new crimes during a period of 24 months, the realization of 198 days of work for the benefit of the community and full compliance with the financial obligations stipulated in the judgment. Specifically, payment is required of 20.000 euros before February 22 and the payment of 3.333 euros every 22nd of the month during the period set by the court.
The judge warns that any breach of these conditions will result in consequences. will entail the revocation of the suspensionThis would mean the convicted man would have to go to prison to serve the four-year sentence initially imposed. This warning makes the payment schedule and rules of conduct a key element in preventing his actual incarceration.
A firm agreement with no possibility of appeal
The ruling comes after prosecution and defense reached an agreement during the process, which has allowed for a reduced sentence in exchange for admitting to the facts. This agreement means that the ruling is considered "final," that is, there is no possibility of filing appeals before higher authorities.
According to information published by financial media, Movistar Plus+ and Telefónica themselves have welcomed this outcome, as it strengthens their legal strategy against piracy and sends a a deterrent message to other users who may consider similar activities on platforms like Telegram.
The court emphasizes in its legal reasoning that the accused acted with the intention of to obtain an illicit financial gainThey are profiting from content whose legitimate access requires a paid subscription. The existence of a fixed fee, a stable customer base, and a high volume of payments is what distinguishes cases like this from simple, occasional sharing between individuals.
Since it is an agreement between the parties, the resolution is added to the growing list of final judgments in Spain against audiovisual piracyespecially in the field of football and major pay-TV platforms.
Movistar Plus+, LaLiga and the offensive against piracy
This case cannot be understood without the broader context of the fight against illegal football broadcasts in Spain. For some time now, LaLiga and the operators have intensified their efforts to cut off access to pirate IPTV, fraudulent links, and networks that offer unlicensed pay-TV channels and matches.
In the last year, LaLiga has deployed systems of near real-time blocking of IPTV services which broadcast their matches, with segments that are repeated day after day. At the same time, the organization has launched awareness campaigns and has even gone so far as to Offer 50 euros to bars and establishments that they collaborate by reporting the retransmission of illegal content in their establishments.
Movistar Plus+, as the main home of pay football in Spain and one of the platforms that offers the most LaLiga matches, It has become a prime target for pirates.The volume of sports rights and the importance of its offering make any breach in its signal especially tempting for networks seeking to profit from unauthorized access.
The Vitoria-Gasteiz ruling joins other recent judicial decisions. Of particular note is, for example, the ruling in the Provincial Audience of Malaga, which condemned up to three years in prison to those responsible for several IPTV services that distributed Movistar Plus+ content on a massive scale. In that case, the financial penalty was around 80.000 euros compensationand a final sentence was also considered after reaching an agreement between the parties.
Taken together, these resolutions show that the crackdown on audiovisual piracy is underway. It no longer limits itself to closing websites or channelsbut is clearly directed against the people behind the networks who turn these practices into a profitable business.
What are the implications for users of pirated links?
Beyond the profile of the convicted individual in this case, the sentence serves as a wake-up call for anyone involved in the distribution or consumption of unlicensed paid content. Although the main focus is on those who organize and monetize these networks, Users are not entirely out of risk either..
Spanish courts have made it clear on several occasions that mass sharing of links that provide access to pirated content It can be considered collaboration in the illicit activity, especially if there is an economic benefit involved or if it is done with a clear intention to facilitate fraud.
In a scenario where operators have reinforced their investment in anti-piracy technology, it is increasingly common that Channels, groups, and services are monitored who distribute these types of links. The ability to identify administrators and trace digital payments makes it much more difficult to "hide" behind a pseudonym or an anonymous account.
For the average user, the message conveyed by statements like this is obvious: The apparent savings compared to legal subscription can end up being very expensive. if one becomes involved in a legal investigation. In addition to potential criminal liability, there is the risk of civil claims for damages from rights holders.
At a time when audiovisual piracy is experiencing a new wave linked to IPTV, M3U lists, streaming websites and messaging channels, operators and organizations like LaLiga insist on the need to respect the current legal framework and opt for legal alternatives to access series, movies and sports.
What happened in Vitoria-Gasteiz illustrates how Movistar Plus+ piracy occurs through Telegram It is no longer seen as a simple technological "trick".but rather as a criminal activity with real consequences: prison sentences, daily fines, six-figure compensation payments, and the constant threat of incarceration if the imposed conditions are not met. All of this paints a picture in which pirate link networks will find it increasingly difficult to operate with the sense of impunity they enjoyed years ago.