DUBAI, 4 June 2008 — Local officials have issued a warning to those involved in illegally importing satellite TV decoders into the country and to those selling decoders programmed to decrypt and steal signals from pay TV channels. Sources confirmed that neighboring GCC countries also would soon adopt similar measures to curb the entry of illegal decoders into their countries.
The UAE Ministry of Economy has already ordered authorities in all ports of entry in the seven emirates to confiscate decoders that are imported illegally into the UAE, reaffirming the fact that such an act is a clear violation of the UAE’s Copyright Law 7 of 2002, Article 38, outlawing the stealing of subscription television channels.
The Dubai police recently conducted several raids on dealers facilitating the sale of decoder boxes programmed to view pay TV channels and channels containing pornographic material.
“We will not show any leniency to violators of Intellectual Property Rights; it is high time that traders and users of pirated and illegally imported decoders are held responsible for the consequences of their actions,” said a senior Ministry of Economy official.
