ICANN’s DNS Blocking Report Presents Three Key Recommendations
ICANN, the organization responsible for ensuring the stability of the internet's Domain Name System (DNS), has published advice for all entities involved in DNS blocking. Three key recommendations arrive as part of a comprehensive report from ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) on the technical means of DNS blocking and its effects - both intended and unintended.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/icanns-dns-blocking-report-presents-three-key-recommendations-250609/
Grande Slams Labels’ “Egregious” Piracy Claims in Final Supreme Court Plea
Can internet service providers be held liable for pirating subscribers? This question is at the center of several federal lawsuits in the U.S. and could soon be taken on by the Supreme Court. This week, ISP Grande Communications urged the Court to accept its petition, characterizing an opposing call from music companies as an attempt to "blatantly rewrite the record."
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/grande-slams-labels-egregious-piracy-claims-in-final-supreme-court-plea/
Google Wins Copyright Claim Dismissal in Publishers’ Textbook Piracy Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed by educational publishers in 2024 accuses Google of profiting from textbook piracy. At the heart of the complaint are claims that Google's ‘systemic and pervasive advertising’ of infringing copies promotes pirated copies sold by third parties. In its recent motion to dismiss, Google argued that the publishers' vicarious liability claim fails to meet the legal standard. In an opinion and order handed down this week, the judge agreed - but not on everything.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Cloudflare Warns EU About Extensive Piracy Overblocking, Calls for Safeguards
American Internet infrastructure company Cloudflare is pushing back against increasing calls to broaden pirate site blocking in the EU. The company notes that since similar efforts in Spain and Italy have resulted in extensive collateral damage, there's a need for more transparency and constructive collaboration on the anti-piracy front. Cloudflare also wants rightsholders to pay for their overblocking mistakes.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Napster.com Faced ISP Piracy Blockade For “Massive Copyright Violations”
Twenty-six years ago this week, Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker launched Napster, a music sharing platform that disrupted a global industry. After being sued and declaring bankruptcy, today's Napster is a legal streaming brand. Yet, in a recent complaint, a royalty collection outfit accused Napster of "massive" copyright violations. The aim was to have the site's domain blocked by every ISP in Italy, effectively denying its ability to do business there.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Unveiled: New U.S. Anti-Piracy Bill ‘ACPA’ Proposes Alternative Site Blocking Path
Republican House Representative Darrell Issa is working on the introduction of the 'American Copyright Protection Act' (ACPA), a new bill that would enable copyright holders to request site blocking orders against foreign pirate sites. A discussion draft shows that the proposed framework has key differences compared to the FADPA bill introduced by Rep. Lofgren earlier this year. Both bills target DNS resolvers, however, which has several tech companies worried.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Operator of South Korea’s Largest Pirate Site Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
Before its inevitable demise, NooNooTV [NunuTV] was believed to be the largest pirate site in South Korea. That in itself made the site's operator a prime target for enforcement. Despite spawning dozens of domains to avoid blocking, and reportedly moving servers from one 'safe' country to another, local authorities continued their investigation in collaboration with INTERPOL. At a court in South Korea last week, 'Person A' was sentenced to three years in prison.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
MPA Backs Automated Pirate Site-Blocking, Sees Role for VPN and CDN Companies
The Motion Picture Association sees automated, real-time, and dynamic site blocking mechanisms as a key tool to fight online piracy. In response to an inquiry from the European Commission, reviewing its recommendation to combat live-streaming piracy, the MPA further notes that VPN companies and CDN providers should be actively involved.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Anti-Piracy Group BREIN Ramps Up IPTV Actions Under New Leadership
Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN has just posted its latest annual report, highlighting several key achievements. IPTV continues to be the largest threat to the audiovisual industry. In addition to shutting down dozens of operators, BREIN made criminal referrals that it expects to pay off this year. Google also lent a helping hand by banning adverts for 'IPTV' keyword searches.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-group-brein-ramps-up-iptv-actions-under-new-leadership/
Enders’ Piracy Report Blames Big Tech; That’s What Anti-Piracy Lobbyists Do
A new Enders Analysis report describes piracy of live sports and premium TV as "industrial scale theft" that costs companies such as Sky and the Premier League billions every year. The report calls out Amazon for selling legal Fire TV devices too cheaply, while Google and Microsoft receive criticism for lacking interest in DRM. These talking points show that Enders has its finger on the industry's pulse. Founded by veteran anti-piracy lobbyist of more than 20 years, that's to be expected.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Record Labels and ISP Frontier Settle Piracy Liability Lawsuit
Several prominent record labels have settled their piracy liability lawsuit with Internet provider Frontier Communications. In a public notice, all parties agree to bear their own costs, but the details of the settlement agreement were not disclosed. The settlement arrives just weeks after a similar lawsuit filed by movie companies was settled ahead of trial.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/record-labels-and-isp-frontier-settle-piracy-liability-lawsuit/
IPTV Pirate Fights 25-30 Years Prison, “Facially Absurd” U.S. Govt Calculations
Five men found guilty of criminal copyright infringement in connection with pirate streaming site Jetflicks remain free after being convicted in 2024. In a sentencing memorandum filed at a Las Vegas court, counsel for group leader Kristopher Dallmann describes the government's loss calculations as "facially absurd" in a case featuring "an egregious incidence of the trial tax problem." The sentencing guideline range for Dallmann is an unprecedented 25 to 30 years.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Musi Alleges Apple’s App Store Removal Was Orchestrated, Seeks Sanctions
The legal dispute between Apple and music streaming app Musi has taken another unexpected turn. Following Apple's motion for sanctions, which dismissed Musi's allegations that a backroom deal was responsible for the app's removal, Musi has countered with a detailed overview of communications between Apple, YouTube, and music industry officials, while also calling for sanctions.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/musi-alleges-apples-app-store-removal-was-orchestrated-seeks-sanctions/
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 05/26/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'A Minecraft Movie' tops the chart, followed by 'Final Destination: Bloodlines'. 'Fountain of Youth' 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/
Portugal Remains a Piracy Hotspot Despite Blocking Thousands of Sites
Portugal often served as an example of how effectively pirate site blocking measures can be implemented. Internet providers are blocking more than 3,000 domain names today with relative ease. While Hollywood reported that the blocks are effective, not all rightsholders necessarily agree. In fact, new data reveals that Portugal remains a piracy hotspot in Europe.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/portugal-remains-a-piracy-hotspot-despite-blocking-thousands-of-sites/
Cloudflare CEO: Football Piracy Blocks Will Claim Lives; “I Pray No One Dies”
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince issued a stark warning over LaLiga's ISP blocking campaign. The blockades deny access to less than 150 pirate sites and reportedly render millions of innocent websites unavailable. Prince said he "prays no one dies," after revealing Spanish citizens are being denied access to critical resources. Mass blocking of Cloudflare continued on Sunday, despite a clear indication from Prince that his company has always been willing to cooperate.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
P.CoK Webtoon Piracy Fighters Display Plumage as Unorthodox Tactics Pay Off
The anti-piracy team at Kakao Entertainment likes to stand out and not just when there's good news to report. Like the avian beauty that inspired its name, P.CoK's approach is part eye-catching, part distraction, but it does appear to be working. With help from what it describes as an underground network of volunteer informants, P.CoK claims to have shut down 28 pirate sites. It also posts 'insider' evidence and items of proof to social media, to dispel any lingering doubt.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Piracy Shield: European Commission Urged to Assess Legality Under EU Law
Expressing grave concerns over Italy's Piracy Shield system, this January tech and telecoms advocacy group CCIA urged the government to withdraw planned legislation and engage TRIS, an EU procedure which aims to prevent internal market barriers. In a newly submitted contribution under TRIS, CCIA urges the European Commission to issue a detailed opinion to ensure Piracy Shield's compatibility with EU law.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
EU Piracy Watchlist Adds IPFS, FitGirl and Njalla
The European Commission has published the fourth edition of its 'Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List', providing a detailed overview of piracy-linked sites and services located outside the EU. Aside from many familiar names such as The Pirate Bay, the report also flags the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) as a piracy threat. Game repacker FitGirl and domain registration service Njalla also make the list, with the latter surprisingly branded as an 'off-the-shelf piracy facilitation service'
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/eu-piracy-watchlist-adds-ipfs-fitgirl-and-njalla-250523/
Live Sports Piracy: France ‘Contained’ Illegal IPTV & Illicit Streaming in 2024
Telecoms regulator Arcom has published a new report on the illicit streaming of sports content in France. In 2024, 18% of French citizens accessed sports content illegally, a figure unchanged from the previous year. Arcom notifications led to the blocking of 3,800 domains, with the Paris court adding over 400 in the same period. Concerns over pirate IPTV uptake will likely persist after 41% of users admitted that their new hobby is less than a year old.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Piracy Operation COLLECTiVE Dismantled, Uploader ‘Will1869’ Arrested by UK Police
Popular torrent site uploader Will1869, known for releases tagged as 'COLLECTiVE', has been arrested by police in the UK. He specialized in distributing recent movies that were typically sourced elsewhere. COLLECTiVE torrents were shared on public portals including 1337x and also appeared on the home site, Laidbackmanor, which was also shut down by police.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
U.S. ISPs Want Retrospective Immunity in Pirate Site Blocking Bill
At a recent Senate subcommittee hearing, the Motion Picture Association reiterated the need for a pirate site blocking regime in the United States. Behind the scenes, lawmakers and stakeholders appear to be progressing towards an agreed-upon position. One of the main roadblocks, according to Senator Coons, is that Internet providers are seeking retroactive immunity as part of a 'deal'.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/u-s-isps-want-retrospective-immunity-in-pirate-site-blocking-bill-250520/
Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 05/19/2025
Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'A Minecraft Movie' tops the chart, followed by 'Snow White'. '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/
Constitutional Court Urged to End Piracy Blockades Now Hurting Millions
Cumbersome IP address blocking to fight piracy of LaLiga matches has also punished the innocent; an estimated 2.7 million innocent sites blocked during a single weekend according to recent data. Sounding the alarm over a potential threat to democracy, cybersecurity collective RootedCON has appealed to Spain's Constitutional Court to bring blocking to an end. Meanwhile, letters sent by LaLiga to journalists are being perceived as threats.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
Copyright Claims Board is “Ineffective and Costly,” Watchdog Groups Say
Responding to an inquiry from the U.S. Copyright Office, a coalition of watchdog groups has flagged various problems with the Copyright Claims Board. They label the three-year-old small claims tribunal as "ineffective" and a poor use of taxpayer money. The groups highlight a high volume of dismissed claims, concerns over the opt-out procedure, and an alarming 60% default rate in cases that do reach a final determination.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/copyright-claims-board-is-ineffective-and-costly-watchdog-groups-say/
Social Media ‘Likes’ Serve as Online Piracy Evidence, Judge Concludes
Sharing information on social media is common for many people nowadays, but it's not always without consequence. In some cases, simple 'likes' can be used as evidence in court, as a Florida man recently discovered. His Star Wars and Minion 'likes' were presented as evidence to support allegations he may be a prolific BitTorrent pirate.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/social-media-likes-serve-as-online-piracy-evidence-judge-concludes-250517/
Major VPN Providers Ordered to Block Pirate Sports Streaming Sites
The world's leading VPN providers have been ordered to block around 200 pirate site domains following legal action in France by Canal+ Group. The broadcaster argued that users of NordVPN, CyberGhost, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN, use those services to access illegal football and rugby matches to which it also owns the rights. The VPN companies resisted on various grounds, but to no avail.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/major-vpn-providers-ordered-to-block-pirate-sports-streaming-sites-250516/
Italy Fines Over 2,200 Pirate IPTV Subscribers in New Crackdown
Italy has intensified its fight against IPTV piracy by issuing fines direct to subscribers whose details were linked to a criminal investigation. This week, 2,282 users across the country received fines, typically starting at €154. This marks a significant step in holding end-users accountable, which is widely praised by the country's top football bosses.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
[1]: https://torrentfreak.com/
https://torrentfreak.com/italy-fines-over-2200-pirate-iptv-subscribers-in-new-crackdown-250516/
AI-Powered News Piracy Site Blocked By ISPs After Court Sides With Publishers
Legal frameworks put in place to protect the audiovisual industries were never likely to exist in a vacuum forever. A coalition of publishers, whose news content was quickly digested, rewritten, and republished on an automated AI-powered news platform, now have a similar ISP blocking order in hand. To have any noticeable effect on this type of piracy, they'll need more than just that.
From: [TF][1], for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.