DISH Wins $42M Default Judgment Against “DMCA-Ignored” Host Virtual Systems
DISH Network has secured a $42 million default judgment in a U.S. court against hosting provider Virtual Systems, which allegedly ignored repeated DMCA takedown notices relating to IPTV piracy services. According to the lawsuit, Virtual Systems hosted servers used by illegal streaming platforms that distributed DISH-owned channels without authorization.
DISH claimed that the company not only failed to remove infringing content when notified, but also continued providing infrastructure to pirate IPTV operators, enabling them to remain online and generate revenue. The court ruled in DISH’s favor after Virtual Systems did not respond or participate in the legal proceedings.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered significant financial damages based on statutory copyright infringement penalties, totaling $42 million. The ruling also reinforces that hosting providers can be held liable when they knowingly support piracy and refuse to act on DMCA complaints.
Legal experts note that this decision strengthens DISH’s wider anti-piracy strategy, which targets both operators and their service providers, sending a warning to hosts that ignoring infringement notices carries serious consequences.
