“Never Terminate” Policy: Music Labels Slam Grande’s Supreme Court Piracy Appeal
Major music companies have fired back at Grande Communications' Supreme Court plea, arguing that the ISP's questions about copyright liability are "utterly divorced from reality". They note that the ISP's liability is not the result of shortcomings in copyright law, but from Grande's own "egregious" policy of never terminating even the most rampant infringers.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 05/12/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Warfare' tops the chart, followed by 'Thunderbolts'. 'Captain America: Brave New World' completes the top three.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/
LaLiga Disregards Vercel’s Piracy Overblocking Outreach, Blocks it Again
When anti-piracy enforcement talks went nowhere, LaLiga began blocking Cloudflare IP addresses, regardless of the innocent websites it also rendered inaccessible. Since early February, widespread outages have spread across Spain as IP addresses belonging to other cloud services suffered the same fate. To prevent overblocking, Vercel set up a priority reporting mechanism just for LaLiga. It remains unused and on Sunday, Vercel was blocked once again.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
DNS Piracy Blocking Orders: Google, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS Respond Differently
Pirate site blocking orders issued against DNS resolvers including OpenDNS, Google, and Cloudflare are stacking up in Europe. Since similar demands may eventually surface in other countries, including the U.S., we take a look at how these companies respond to blocking orders. Our research reveals that their responses differ quite a bit, which adds to an already confusing situation.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
The Substance: Pre-Release Piracy Made People MORE Eager to Visit the Cinema
The major Hollywood studios are unshakeable when it comes to the damage caused by pre-release piracy, let alone when a leaked movie appears online in unusually high quality. Yet when The Substance leaked online under precisely those conditions, online piracy triggered the opposite effect. Director Coralie Fargeat says she didn't expect it, but when people saw what the movie was all about, that made them even more eager to see The Substance at the cinema.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Pirate IPTV Owner and 7 Associates “Stole TV Signals” From Bell & Rogers
A year after avoiding arrest in Canada, alleged pirate IPTV owner Éric Grenier traveled back from Venezuela on Tuesday before appearing at the Trois-Rivières courthouse the next day. He faces ten charges in connection with the alleged theft of TV signals from Bell, Rogers and Quebecor, and the sale of illegal set-top boxes via Arubox TV and Stocker IPTV. A total of seven co-defendants face charges in the same case.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
DISH Sues UK Hosting Provider in $25 Million Pirate IPTV Lawsuit
As the battle against pirate IPTV services intensifies, DISH Network and IBCAP have launched another legal offensive. A new lawsuit filed in a US federal court targets UK hosting company Innetra, which allegedly offers its services to many pirate IPTV operations, while largely ignoring DMCA takedown requests. This action seeks over $25 million puts other hosting providers on notice.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/dish-sues-uk-hosting-provider-in-25-million-pirate-iptv-lawsuit/
Trump Told to Back Pirate Site Blocking Law Instead of 100% Movie Tariffs
President Trump's strategy to "save" the "dying" movie industry in the United States amounts to a 100% tariff on "any and all" movies produced in "foreign lands." Trump appears to be taking aim at generous incentives offered by the UK, among others. In a response, think tank ITIF suggests an alternative; urge Congress to pass site-blocking legislation and compel countries to enforce copyright protection as part of their tariff negotiations.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Musi Faked UMG Email to Stay on App Store, Apple Claims in Sanctions Motion
The legal dispute between Apple and the iOS Musi app has escalated, with Apple seeking sanctions over allegedly false claims made by the developer after its App Store removal. Apple contests Musi's assertion of a "backchannel" scheme, citing evidence gathered during discovery. Underscoring its claims of dishonesty, Apple details how Musi allegedly regained App Store access in 2020 by fraudulently impersonating a UMG executive.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 05/05/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Captain America: Brave New World' tops the chart, followed by 'Mickey 17'. 'Death of a Unicorn' completes the top three.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/
Twitch Blocked For Piracy as LaLiga & ISPs Prioritize Football Over Everything
For almost three months, Spain's LaLiga and local ISPs have been blocking IP addresses en masse to prevent piracy, fully aware that thousands of innocent internet users are repeatedly blocked at the same time. In the wake of a European Union Intellectual Property Office visit to Madrid, and a meeting last week at EUIPO in Alicante, Twitch IP addresses were among dozens more blocked on Saturday. Today, LaLiga doubled its blocking efforts - literally.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
DAZN’s New Pirate IPTV Blocking Order & ‘Confidential’ Secret Sauce
Early April, Belgian media reported new pirate IPTV blocking under a new court obtained by DAZN and 12th Player. Described as "the first of its kind," DNS providers reportedly faced fines of €100,000 per day for non-compliance. Soon after, OpenDNS left Belgium, a replay of its earlier departures from both France and Portugal. Hailed as a “real step forward” against piracy but no mention of a third loss to DNS, the order also contains an apparent secret sauce.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/dazns-new-pirate-iptv-blocking-order-confidential-secret-sauce-250502/
US: Vietnam Remains a “Piracy Haven” Despite Fmovies Crackdown
The Office of the United States Trade Representative has released its annual Special 301 Report, calling out countries that fall short on anti-piracy enforcement and other forms of intellectual property protection. Vietnam is once again one of the key targets and still perceived as a piracy haven, despite the historic takedown of the Fmovies piracy ring last summer.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/us-vietnam-remains-a-piracy-haven-despite-fmovies-crackdown-250501/
Pirate Site Blocks Ineffective? Telcos Call For Sanctions Against Portuguese Users
The Association of Electronic Communications Operators has provided a very gloomy assessment of progress in the fight against piracy in Portugal. While that may not sound especially unusual, this summer will mark 10 years since the launch of an industry-led, voluntary site-blocking regime, which reportedly reduced visits to pirate sites by 60%+ in a matter of months. Apritel now says that swift financial sanctions are required to being persistent pirate consumers back into line.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Spotify Dismantles ‘SpotifyDL’ Track Download Extension via DMCA Notice
Spotify has come a long way since it openly appealed to music pirates in its early days. This week, the streaming giant targeted "SpotifyDL," a browser extension enabling users to download tracks, playlists and albums, by bypassing its protections. Following a DMCA notice filed with GitHub, Spotify successfully forced the developer to strip the tool's core functionality.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
DRM-Free OnlyFans Downloads See Widevine Project Nuked From GitHub
Used by major video platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu to name just a few, Google content protection system Widevine can be found in leading browsers, games consoles, and most mobile devices. Circumvention has been ongoing for years, but after OnlyFans sent a complaint to GitHub, a Widevine decryption project has been ejected from GitHub.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/drm-free-onlyfans-downloads-see-widevine-project-nuked-from-github-250428/
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 04/28/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Havoc' tops the chart, followed by 'Captain America: Brave New World'. 'A Working Man' completes the top three.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/
Pirate Site Blocking Demands Shelved as Filmmakers Settle With U.S. ISP
A pending settlement between movie companies and ISP Frontier has significantly altered the scope of an upcoming copyright trial. The movie studios are expected to withdraw their claims, including their demand for pirate site blocking, leaving Frontier to face only major record labels in court. With the music companies seeking potentially over a billion dollars in damages for subscribers' piracy activities, the stakes remain exceptionally high.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
DMCA Notices Can Silence Critics But Complaints By The Public Put All at Risk
What began this week as research into an abuse of the DMCA to silence this publication, led to an unsettling world where bogus copyright complaints are just the tip of the iceberg. Waves of takedown notices, many filed by members of the public and various businesses, shine an unflattering light on the human condition. Whether hiding the truth, gagging rivals and critics, or simply telling tales; takedown notices sent by the public put us all at risk.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/dmca-notices-can-silence-critics-but-public-complaints-are-chaotic-250427/
Seekee Browser App is a Magnet for Movie, TV Show, and Anime Pirates
Technically speaking, any modern web browser can stream pirated movies and TV shows, but some make it easier than others. The Seekee app, available on iOS and indirectly on Android, markets itself as a browser with AI capabilities and fast video streaming. The latter stands out, as pirated content is surprisingly easy to find and is organized for optimal viewing pleasure. But at what cost?
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/seekee-browser-app-is-a-magnet-for-movie-tv-show-and-anime-pirates-250426/
Pirate CDNs Fueling 1,400 Russian Sites “Use EU & US CDN Infrastructure”
A new report offers a rare glimpse into the world of pirate CDNs. The report suggests that the largest players in Russia together service around 1,400 third party pirate sites, whose operators draw on massive libraries of pirated content offered by the CDNs. A single CDN reportedly controls around 60% of the Russian market, using CDN infrastructure in the Netherlands, the United States, Ukraine, Germany, and France.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-cdns-fueling-1400-russian-sites-use-eu-us-cdn-infrastructure-250424/
“You Wouldn’t Steal a Car”… But Would You Pirate a Font?
Twenty years ago, the statement "You Wouldn't Steal a Car" launched one of the most iconic anti-piracy campaigns. Through a memorable commercial, the movie industry forcefully equated digital piracy with physical theft. While the PSA became instantly recognizable, spawning countless parodies, it also attracted its own controversy. New revelations suggest that the campaign's distinctive font may have itself been copied, or dare we say 'stolen'.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/you-wouldnt-steal-a-car-but-would-you-pirate-a-font-250424/
Pirate IPTV Users Largely Face No Risk of Arrest, UK’s Top Piracy Cop Concedes
Since October 2023, relentless high-profile media reports have warned that UK-based users of pirate streaming services run a serious risk of arrest. Those claims sit in contrast to comments made by the head of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) in a recent interview. Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey concedes that people who use pirate devices are largely able to do so "without risk of arrest." That doesn't mean entirely without risk, however.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Nintendo Seeks Damages & Broad Injunction Against ‘Pirate’ Game Streamer
Nintendo is hoping to wrap up its lawsuit against gamer Jesse Keighin, aka EveryGameGuru, after he failed to answer the complaint. The game giant seeks $17,500 in damages for copyright infringement, including streaming pre-release games and sharing links to emulators. In addition, Nintendo requests a broad global injunction to prevent future infringements, even for games that do not yet exist.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Reddit’s Copyright Removals Drop to Multi-Year Low
Reddit's latest transparency report reveals a notable reversal in copyright takedown trends. After years of increases, the platform removed just over 550,000 items last year due to copyright complaints, down sharply from roughly 1.2 million removed in 2023. Notably, Reddit keeps an eye on potential overreach; it declined to remove an AI-generated sports parody, deeming it transformative fair use.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/reddits-copyright-removals-drop-to-multi-year-low-250418/
Alleged Anna’s Archive Operator Dropped from U.S. ‘Scraping’ Lawsuit
American nonprofit OCLC sued Anna's Archive last year for alleged hacking and unauthorized publishing of its WorldCat database. The sole named defendant in the case, an archivist from the Seattle area, denied any involvement with the site. After the court referred several scraping-related questions to the state Supreme Court, OCLC has now agreed to drop the alleged operator from the lawsuit.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/alleged-annas-archive-operator-dropped-from-u-s-scraping-lawsuit-250417/
OpenDNS Quits Belgium Under Threat of Piracy Blocks or Fines of €100K Per Day
In a brief statement citing a court order in Belgium but providing no other details, Cisco says that its OpenDNS service is no longer available to users in Belgium. Cisco's withdrawal is almost certainly linked to an IPTV piracy blocking order obtained by DAZN; itt requires OpenDNS, Cloudflare and Google to block over 100 pirate sites or face fines of €100,000 euros per day. Just recently, Cisco withdrew from France over a similar order.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
LaLiga/Cloudflare Crisis: ISPs Urged to Action Amid Mass Overblocking
With assistance from Spain's leading ISPs, LaLiga continues to block pirate sites, Cloudflare, and thousands of innocents caught in the crossfire. Legal action by Cloudflare and hacking collective RootedCON tried to bring the chaos to an end but their requests were dismissed last month. Meanwhile, a non-profit group is demanding that all ISPs participate in nationwide blocking.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Unfinished Copy of ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Leaks on Pirate Sites
Ahead of its long-delayed American premiere, an unfinished 'workprint' copy of "A Minecraft Movie" is circulating on pirate sites. Warner Bros. is trying to contain this and other leaks, but that may prove difficult. The incident mirrors the infamous 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine workprint leak and the involvement of the FBI, which led to the arrest and conviction of an uploader. The source of that leak was never publicly disclosed.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/unfinished-copy-of-a-minecraft-movie-leaks-on-pirate-sites-250404/
Premier League Subpoena Requires Cloudflare to Unmask Streaming Pirates
Piracy poses a major threat to the Premier League's broadcast rights, prompting it to take continued action against rogue streaming sites. Hoping to unmask the anonymous operators behind dozens of pirate sites, the league has obtained a DMCA subpoena against Cloudflare in the United States. While Cloudflare is expected to comply, the usability of the information it holds remains uncertain.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Aylo Uses Cybersquatting Complaint to Take Out Pirate Site Domains
In a rare legal move, Aylo subsidiary Licensing IP used a cybersquatting lawsuit to take out pirate websites infringing on its trademarks. The 'in rem' approach allowed the court to order the direct transfer of domains including mydirtyhobby.to without requiring personal jurisdiction over the site operators. The ruling, issued last week, requires the .to registry to transfer the trademark-infringing domains.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/aylo-uses-cybersquatting-complaint-to-take-out-pirate-site-domains-250331/
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 03/31/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'The Monkey' tops the chart, followed by 'Captain America: Brave New World'. 'Last Breath' completes the top three.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/
UK Pirate Movie Cammers Thwarted 104 Times in 2024, Seven Arrested
Protecting movies during their relatively short theatrical window remains a priority for the industry. According to data released by the Film Content Protection Agency, UK cinema staff spotted and disrupted illegal recording activity 105 times in 2024, with seven individuals arrested by police. One recording did appear online, although that contained zero video.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/uk-pirate-movie-cammers-thwarted-104-times-in-2024-seven-arrests-250331/