In recent months, DISH Network has filed separate lawsuits against two IPTV resellers. The outcomes of these lawsuits took surprising turns, resulting in one reseller being ordered to pay $30 million in damages, while the other had their case dismissed abruptly.

The Case Against Channels4Cheap and Purchase-IPTV

In November 2023, DISH Network sued John Gwaka Magembe and Joyce Berry, the alleged operators of the websites channels4cheap.com (C4C) and purchase-iptv.com. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants were selling subscriptions to the Beast TV streaming service, with Magembe facing consequences alone after Berry was dismissed from the case.

District Judge Mark T. Pittman handed down a default judgment against Magembe on April 26, 2024, ordering him to pay damages totaling over $30 million and imposing a broad injunction against similar conduct in the future.

The Surprising Dismissal of the Sharma IPTV Case

In February 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Mr. Sharma of Sharma IPTV by DISH and Sling. Prior to the lawsuit, a cease-and-desist notice had been sent to Sharma IPTV, offering to settle the case for $1 million. However, DISH and Sling dismissed all claims in the lawsuit just a day after Sharma IPTV’s owner requested assistance from the clerk of the court.

The reasons behind the sudden dismissal remain unclear, with no mention of a settlement. The unpredictable nature of these lawsuits against IPTV resellers showcases the diverse outcomes they can yield despite initial similarities.

As DISH Network continues its efforts to combat IPTV piracy, future lawsuits against resellers may involve new information and strategies, shaping the legal landscape in this area.

For more details on these cases, refer to the report from TorrentFreak and the Court Documentation (PDF).