Is IPTV legal in Canada?
Short answer
Licensed IPTV from Bell, Rogers, Telus and streaming services is legal. Unlicensed subscriptions and pre-loaded boxes infringe the Copyright Act, and courts have ordered ISPs to block the services.
Canada has some of the clearest case law on IPTV in the world. In 2019 the Federal Court granted the first site-blocking order against GoldTV, an unlicensed IPTV service, and the Federal Court of Appeal upheld it in 2021. Since then dynamic blocking orders cover live NHL and other sports, and ISPs must update the blocked list during games.
Selling pre-loaded boxes has also been ruled on: in Bell Canada v. Lackman the court found that marketing set-top boxes configured for infringing streams was itself infringement. Sellers, not just stream operators, are exposed.
Subscribers have not been prosecuted, and the Copyright Act caps statutory damages for non-commercial infringement. The real-world risk is service loss, blocked streams during the games people paid to watch, and payment fraud. TSN+, Sportsnet+, Crave and the free CBC Gem app cover most of what people look for.
Licensed alternatives
Free legal options
Frequently asked questions
Can I get fined for watching unlicensed IPTV in Canada?
Subscribers have not been prosecuted, and the Copyright Act caps statutory damages for non-commercial infringement. The real-world risk is service loss, blocked streams during the games people paid to watch, and payment fraud.
What are the penalties for selling IPTV subscriptions?
Selling pre-loaded boxes has also been ruled on: in Bell Canada v. Lackman the court found that marketing set-top boxes configured for infringing streams was itself infringement.
How do I recognise an unlicensed IPTV service?
Thousands of channels from every country for a few units of currency a month, payment by crypto or gift card, no company address, apps outside the official stores, and resellers on social media.
Which law applies?
Copyright Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42), ss. 3, 27 and 41.1; site-blocking orders under Bell Media Inc. v. GoldTV.biz (2019 FC 1432, upheld 2021 FCA 100).
Which legal services exist in Canada?
See the licensed alternatives list on this page and the free public-broadcaster apps.