Top EPL lawyer ‘blown away’ seeing illegal streaming boxes sold openly at Sim Lim Square in 2017
In 2017, Kevin Plumb, then Director of Legal Services for the English Premier League (EPL), visited Singapore’s Sim Lim Square after being informed by Singtel about the open sale of illegal streaming devices. He was astonished to find these devices being sold openly in well-branded shops, likening the experience to visiting a legitimate Apple Store.
Following this discovery, the Premier League issued cease and desist letters to the sellers, resulting in an approximate 80% reduction in the number of physical stores offering such devices. In 2018, legal action was taken against two Android TV box sellers, leading to significant fines. Further enforcement in October 2022 saw police raids at Sim Lim Square, with 17 individuals arrested for selling illegal streaming devices. In October 2024, a seller and his companies became the first to be prosecuted under the amended Copyright Act, receiving a 10-month jail sentence and substantial fines.
Plumb, now the Premier League’s General Counsel, emphasized that these actions send a clear message that piracy will not be tolerated and that consumers should be aware of the legal implications of purchasing such devices. He also noted that piracy methods have evolved over the years, with criminals now using free websites, mobile apps, and social media to distribute pirated content. The Premier League has responded by monitoring these platforms and working with them to remove illegal streams promptly.
