This is why you won’t be able to torrent the Euro 2016 games

Hoping to limit the availability of pirated UEFA Euro 2016 matches, Sony Pictures Networks is sending pre-piracy notices to the owners of several websites, reports TorrentFreak.

The broadcaster has already issued threats of criminal prosecution should any of the sites publish footage.

It is not unusual for torrent sites to be issued with take down notices from broadcasters, but typically they wait for the pirated content to actually be uploaded first.

The Euro 2016 Championship kicks off on 10 June and is expected to attract over 100 million viewers from around the world.

A copy of the letter issued by Sony was obtained by TorrentFreak and can be found below:

“Please be advised that our Client has exclusive Television Rights, Mobile Transmission Rights and Broadband Internet Transmission Rights for the upcoming 2016 UEFA Euro Cup,” the letter begins.

The Indian branch of Sony Pictures goes on to explain they have the exclusive rights to broadcast the event in various countries, through ESPN and other platforms.

Logically, this means that torrent sites and pirate streaming portals are not allowed to offer the same content.

“Any manner of communicating and/or making available for viewing the UEFA EURO CUP 2016 matches on any platform shall therefore amount to violation of our Client’s exclusive rights in which our client has invested significant amount of money,” SPN writes.