Mundine v Green Facebook Fight Streamers Apologise to Foxtel, Avoid Legal Battle

They were facing fines of up to $60,000 or five years in jail.

The bar for gaining folk hero status in 2017 sits so low, you need only point your phone at a television for Twitter to declare you Australian of the Year.

Brett Hevers and Darren Sharpe gained internet notoriety earlier in the month when they live-streamed the Anthony Mundine v Danny Green fight via Facebook, attracting close to 300,000 viewers.

Brett Hevers for Australian of the year. It was great while it lasted..... (share if you actually gets this).

— Sam Dastyari (@samdastyari) February 3, 2017

Probably fair to say this bloke named Darren Sharpe is Australian Of The Year #MundineGreen2

— Azza (@BlueSpur86) February 3, 2017

Darren Sharpe for Australian of the Year

— Jarryd Hackett (@jhack97) February 3, 2017

Darren Sharpe, Australian of the Year #MundineGreen2

— sam malone (@reggie_alonso) February 3, 2017

The catch? The fight was (meant to be) a Foxtel exclusive that cost $59.95, excluding subscription fees. Needless to say, Foxtel wasn’t too pleased with their unauthorised Facebook stream. The two men faced fines of up to $60,000 or five years of jail time for the breach in copyright.

Following a week of rumours regarding what punishment would be doled out to Hevers and Sharpe, Foxtel today released a statement saying they have accepted the “illegal streamers’” apologies.

“Foxtel has been in touch with Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Hevers following last weekend’s illegal Facebook live stream of the Mundine vs. Green match and we’ve expressed our great disappointment with their unlawful activities,” said Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh.

“Rather than taking legal action, we decided to take the opportunity to educate both of them about the significant harm such actions bring to the production of local Australian content, including live sports.”

On Friday, Hevers and Sharpe posted the following apologies to Facebook.

 

 

Hevers had previously set up a Go Fund Me for potential legal fees, which raised a little over $1,000. He pledged to donate to the Cancer Council NSW if Foxtel didn’t follow through on a lawsuit.

 

Sharpe had raised close to $4,000 on his own Go Fund Me page, and similarly said he would donate to charity if there were no legal fees to fund. However, he has not confirmed whether or not his donation to charity has been made.

Photo: Go Fund Me