UFC Issues Statement of Thanks to Government Agencies Assisting With Piracy Investigations

Zuffa’s continued battle against piracy of their pay-per-views got a major ally in the fight as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement have stepped up their efforts to stop the illegal streams of the UFC broadcasts throughout the world.

Zuffa has long fought against website providers who illegally broadcast UFC programming, and have filed several lawsuits against those who either show the pay-per-views, or allow others to broadcast them on their websites.

On Wednesday, the UFC issued a special thank you to the individuals most singularly responsible for stepping up efforts to stop the piracy of their products.

Particularly the UFC offered appreciate to Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and John T. Morton from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their parts in the recent efforts.

“The very forceful actions taken by Mr. Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Mr. Morton, the Director of ICE, against these parasitic websites is very welcome news. The criminal theft of Pay-Per-View events has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars of revenue to not only the UFC and its fighters, but has also deprived federal, state and local government of their rightful entitlement to significant tax revenue,” UFC President Dana White said in the release.

“On behalf of the UFC and its fighters, I extend my sincerest thanks to Mr. Bharara, Mr. Morton, and the many Assistant United States Attorneys and Agents of Homeland Security Investigations who worked so tirelessly during the course of this intensive investigation.”

Of course investigations are ongoing, but with the U.S. government stepping in to help out the effort, the UFC has a powerful ally on their site in the battle against piracy.