A new law passed just days ago classifies unauthorized access to protected audiovisual content as a criminal offense, punishable by at least one year in prison and a fine starting at €2,900 [1], [2].
At the same time, a Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) was signed by the Ministries of Culture and Finance, activating the administrative fine process first outlined in February.
Administrative fines are issued by relevant authorities such as the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), while criminal prosecution is handled by a public prosecutor and can lead to trial.
The administrative fines are now set as follows: €750 for users who access pirated content for personal use, €1,500 for users who publicly screen pirated content, €5,000 for businesses that either screen pirated content or advertise on pirate platforms. In case of repeat offenses, the fines are doubled.
Importantly, offenders will not face criminal charges if they pay double the administrative fine—e.g., €1,500 for personal use.
In Greece, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 pirated subscriptions are active, with audiovisual piracy causing a total loss of €400 million to the national GDP. It is also estimated that more than 5,000 jobs are lost annually due to piracy.
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