By Vassilis Koufopoulos

An important legislative initiative was made by the Government with the aim of enhancing copyright and related rights. The Plenary of the House, voted for the first time the imposition of administrative fine To those who gain illegal access to audiovisual projects through pirate television platforms and streaming services.

The layout occupies both the traffickers of illegal software and equipment and the end users who gain access to pirate content. Specifically The fine is staggedstarting at 750 euros for domestic users, increasing to € 1,500 in cases of public promotion in places such as cafes and hotels, while in cases where the infringement is made for the purpose of financial or commercial profit, the fine is up to € 5,000. The fines are doubled in cases of relapse.

However, in addition to the administrative fine, users who make an illegal view of audiovisual works also have criminal responsibilities. According to the existing legal framework, illegal access to protected content constitutes a criminal offense that results in severe penalties, such as fines or even prison sentences, depending on the gravity of the act.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni stressed the importance of the new regulation, noting that Piraeus of audiovisual content has received alarming dimensionsmaking it necessary to take stricter measures. At the same time, the bill includes, for the first time, the expansion of the dynamic blocking of all kinds of audiovisual content, such as films and series.

New era against piracy of audiovisual content

With new arrangements, The responsibility of the final users is now becoming clear And the sanctions stricter, marking a new era in the battle against piracy of audiovisual content in Greece. The use of pirate connections for illegal access to audiovisual content is not only a violation of the law, but also involves serious digital dangers for users themselves.

Specifically, pirate devices and software used for illegal viewing often contain malware, which can lead to personal data, financial losses and exposure to other online threats. In addition, users may fall victim to organized criminal networks who take advantage of these illegal money laundering and other illegal activities. With these legislative initiatives, Greece is ranked among the advanced countries that are decisively facing audiovisual piracymaking it clear that end users are responsible for their choices and the consequences they have.