Whilst the case will go to appeal, industry observers are saying it sets a serious precedent that will deter other European pay-TV pirates from distributing their modified viewing cards.
According to AEPOC, the European Association for the Protection of Encrypted Works and Services, the case brought by Sky Deutschland, an AEPOC member, proves the effectiveness of Belgian anti-piracy laws.
The association says that the pair of pirates sold illegal viewing cards in Germany and Austria during the years 2006 to 2008.
In the case, the First Instance Court of Tongeren, Belgium ruled that the two accused will be sent to prison for 18 and 8 months respectively. AEPOC adds that two more individuals received suspended sentences in the case, whilst one person was found not guilty.
The association adds that 1.85 million euro in compensation is to be paid by the central pirate in this case, who received the 18 months prison sentence. A further 180,000 euro will also to be paid by the pirate sentenced to 8 months in prison.
The pirates are alleged to have sold more than 5700 cards at 75 euro each.
In court, the bench is reported to have rejected the strategy of the pirates and their lawyers claiming their blank cards were not a pirate device as such and therefore not in violation of the law.
AEPOC president Philippe-Olivier Rousseau said that the money involved - as well as the penalties - in this case show how detrimental piracy is to the Pay-TV industry.