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<title>Y2Mate.com Among a Dozen YouTube Rippers Shut Down By IFPI</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/y2mate-com-among-a-dozen-youtube-rippers-shut-down-by-ifpi-251015/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:43:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Takedowns and Seizures]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[IFPI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Y2Mate.com]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[YouTube ripper]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=273166</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is celebrating the shutdown of YouTube-ripping giant Y2Mate.com and 11 similar platforms. IFPI says that during the last 12 months alone, the twelve domains received over 620 million visits from a global audience. The Y2Mate brand has been a thorn in the side of the record labels for years and has been 'permanently' shut down at least once before. Circumstances suggest that the final curtain may prove elusive.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s.png" alt="youtube-rip-s" width="300" height="244" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273035" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s.png 500w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s-300x244.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s-150x122.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Under the international umbrella of IFPI, the RIAA in the United States, and the BPI in London, the world’s leading recording labels have been on a constant upwards trajectory for a decade.
After the likes of Napster, Grokster, and LimeWire gatecrashed the party and introduced unwelcome (not to mention illegal) competition into the equation, in 2002 revenues tumbled and somehow managed to keep going south until 2014.
Making peace with YouTube was a necessary step that contributed <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-processed-2-2-billion-content-id-copyright-claims-in-2024-250522/">billions of dollars</a> to the overall recovery. The turning point came in 2015, marking the start of ten consecutive years of growth. Revenues more than doubled, from a low of US$12.9 billion in 2014 to a high of US$29.6 billion in 2024.
Piracy hasn’t gone away, but visible legal action against traditional pirate adversaries has been minimal, at least when compared to the periods when revenue was headed in the opposite direction.
<h2>Increased Threat, Unfinished Business</h2>
IFPI’s reporting in 2019 was upbeat; piracy had <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/music-piracy-drops-dramatically-ifpi-shows-190924/">fallen dramatically</a> and music consumption was on the up. Yet a relatively new form of consumption was already causing alarm and was soon described as a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/stream-ripping-problem-worse-than-pirate-sites-ifpi-says-160913/">greater threat</a> than pirate sites. 
So-called stream-ripping was nothing new, but when fueled by the massive repository of recorded music on YouTube, the preferred tactic of shutting down the source was effectively obsolete. So, continuing along lines similar to those that had <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-mp3-settles-with-riaa-site-will-shut-down-170904/">shuttered YouTube-MP3</a> in 2017, the industry took what action it could against sites that converted YouTube links into MP3 downloads.
<center><img decoding="async" src="http://torrentfreak.com/images/youtmp3.png" alt="" width="540" height="352" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-144073" /></center>
One of the most notable disputes saw the RIAA take on the Russian owner of 2conv.com and FLVTO.biz. In an ideal world, the <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-wins-83-million-in-piracy-damages-from-youtube-rippers-220214/">$83 million judgment</a> in the labels’ favor back in 2022 would’ve dampened enthusiasm among those tempted by the same line of business. Ongoing streaming-ripping complaints in the RIAA’s annual reports to the USTR suggested minimal deterrent effect.
<h2>Y2Mate and Eleven Similar Sites Call it Quits</h2>
In an announcement Tuesday, IFPI confirmed that one of the most persistent threats with the greatest volume of online traffic, has now been shut down. 
Y2Mate.com had been featured in the RIAA’s reports to the USTR for several years, and while its traffic had shown signs of decline more recently, 620 million visits per year between Y2Mate and eleven other sites (under common ownership), is clearly significant.
<center><img decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/y2mate-1.png" alt="y2mate-1" width="670" height="497" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273172" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/y2mate-1.png 760w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/y2mate-1-300x223.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/y2mate-1-600x445.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/y2mate-1-150x111.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
“Y2mate has been subject to website <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/y2mate-massive-youtube-ripping-service-blocks-us-uk-visitors-210803/">blocking actions</a> in 13 countries and has appeared in numerous editions of the USTR Notorious Markets Report and the EU Counterfeit and Piracy Watchlist. The shutdown of the sites is a result of targeted enforcement action by IFPI against the operator of the sites,” IFPI reported. 
“The operator of Y2mate and the other 11 websites agreed to shut down the sites for good and to stop infringing IFPI’s members rights in the future. Most of the domains are now in IFPI’s possession, including Y2mate.com, Yt1s.com, Utomp3.com, Tomp3.cc, and Y2mate.gg.” 
<h2>Finer Details Go Unmentioned</h2>
Other than an agreement to shut down and a promise not to infringe IFPI’s members’ rights in the future, IFPI’s announcement offers no further detail on the agreement or the assumed change in circumstances that led to it. It’s reasonable to assume that domains were handed over as part of a deal, however. 
The full list of domains is available below. Records suggest that several were updated recently, with at least one currently displaying the message below.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ifpi-shutdown.png" alt="ifpi shutdown" width="670" height="567" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273171" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ifpi-shutdown.png 670w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ifpi-shutdown-300x254.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ifpi-shutdown-600x508.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ifpi-shutdown-150x127.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
Given the record industry’s complaints over registrant details being hidden away, it’s somewhat ironic that most of the domains have WHOIS records displaying ‘Withheld for Privacy’. That being said, there are more significant gaps in the information being made available. The absence of a lawsuit is unusual; the lack of a large settlement amount, even more so.
<h2>Sites Operated From Vietnam</h2>
Considering that IFPI’s multi-year mission to shut down Y2Mate led them to Vietnam, and despite the chances of obtaining anything close to a deterrent custodial sentence being close to minimal, IFPI still managed to obtain the sites’ domain names. 
In theory, this should make it more difficult to relaunch the sites, but in practical terms, Y2Mate has been evading site blocking measures for years and is unlikely to consider the loss of a few domains as especially problematic. Nevertheless, control of the domains means millions of eyes on the shutdown notice and any benefits that might bring.
None of this means that the return of the sites is inevitable. Yet, if that was the chosen path, preventing it would be almost impossible. Enforcement with lasting results remains elusive in Vietnam, and sites like these can be launched, torn down, and relaunched in the time it takes to eat a sandwich. 
The full list of websites shut down by IFPI: 
9convert.com 
In-y2mate.com 
Tomp3.cc 
Ump3.cc 
utomp3.com 
y2mate.gg 
yt1s.gg 
youtubepp.com 
y2mate.com 
yt1s.com 
vidcombo.com 
Y2mates.com 
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Reddit Banned 709 Subreddits for Repeat Copyright Violations in First Half of 2025</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/reddit-banned-709-subreddits-for-repeat-copyright-violations-in-first-half-of-2025/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:34:38 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[reddit]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[transparency]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transparency Report]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=273023</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Reddit banned 709 subreddits for repeat copyright infringement in the first half of the year. While this is more than double compared to the same period last year, in the grander scheme of removals it's just a speck on the radar. The same holds true for the 837 redditors whose accounts were terminated over copyright violations.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/snoo.png" alt="snoo" width="300" height="203" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273143" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/snoo.png 400w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/snoo-300x203.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/snoo-150x101.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />With many millions of daily users, Reddit is undoubtedly one of the most visited sites on the Internet.
The platform celebrated its 20th anniversary this summer and has grown from a hobby site, started by two college roommates, to a billion-dollar company.
This growth also brought added responsibility. In addition to the billions of casual, insightful, and heartwarming messages, Reddit’s popularity was also embraced by those who color outside the lines of the law.
<h2>Reddit’s Transparency</h2>
One of the issues Reddit has to deal with is copyright infringement, a relatively small task early on. In the first transparency report published <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/reddit-rejects-62-of-all-copyright-complaints-150130/">ten years ago</a>, Reddit reported that it received 176 takedown requests in an entire year. 
Most of these DMCA notices did not lead to any removals, with Reddit stating that the infringing content was often stored on external sites and that “links do not generally infringe copyright.”
Today, that perspective has changed. Reddit’s current <a href="https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043076292-Copyright-overview">copyright overview</a> clearly states that hyperlinks can trigger copyright violations. This is also evident from the many subreddits that warn members not to link to pirated material. 
<h2>2025: DMCA Notices Up, Removals Down</h2>
The volume of takedown notices has also evolved quite a bit. According to Reddit’s <a href="https://redditinc.com/transparency">latest transparency report</a>, the company received 58,920 copyright takedown notices in the first half of 2025, a 5% increase over the 56,210 notices in the same period last year.
<center>DMCA Notices</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/RTR-2025-H1-.041.webp" alt="" width="600" height="387" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-273152" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/RTR-2025-H1-.041.webp 849w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RTR-2025-H1-.041-300x194.webp 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RTR-2025-H1-.041-600x387.webp 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RTR-2025-H1-.041-150x97.webp 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
Despite receiving more takedown notices, Reddit actually removed less content, in part due to notices containing fewer links. In the first half of 2025, the platform removed 220,233 pieces of content – a 31% drop from the same period last year.
<h2>More Fair Use</h2>
Reddit’s reasons for declining to remove content in response to some takedown requests reveal an interesting trend. The number of instances where the company declined to remove content for fair use reasons increased more than 1000%, from 110 to 1,243.
This suggests that Reddit is devoting more attention to defending user-generated commentary and criticism. The transparency report lists several examples of fair use cases, including a discussion about copyrighted poems.
“We received a removal request from the creator of multiple poems, for a Reddit image post featuring said poems. The Reddit post also contained interpretations and criticism of the author’s intent. We declined to remove this content because we believe it made fair use of the poems,” Reddit writes. 
<center>Fair Use Poems</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/fair-use-poen.jpg" alt="fair use poems" width="1218" height="418" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273154" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/fair-use-poen.jpg 1218w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/fair-use-poen-300x103.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/fair-use-poen-600x206.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/fair-use-poen-150x51.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1218px) 100vw, 1218px" /></center>
Fair use remains a relatively rare reason to decline takedown requests. Most of the time Reddit takes no action is because the content has already been removed or no infringement was found. 
<h2>Subreddit and User Bans</h2>
The latest transparency report also shows a significant increase in the number of subreddits that were banned for repeat copyright violations. In the first half of 2025, the company removed 709 subreddits, more than double the number it removed in the same period last year. 
While subreddit bans skyrocketed, bans against individual user accounts for repeat copyright infringements grew at a more modest pace. Reddit banned 837 user accounts in the first half of the year, up from 757 bans in H1 of 2024.
These swings may suggest that copyright-infringement-related bans are reaching new highs, but that is not the case. If we zoom out further, we see that Reddit banned <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/reddit-banned-5853-users-for-excessive-copyright-infringement-last-year-230410/">3,215 subreddits and 5,853 users</a> for excessive copyright infringement in 2022, which was the all-time high.
<h2>A Speck on the Radar</h2>
Zooming out further, it soon becomes clear that a few hundred users and subreddits banned for infringement are little more than a speck on the radar. Reddit and its moderators remove many more for other reasons, including spam, violent content, and harassment.
In the first half of 2025, Reddit mods and admins removed more than 158 million pieces of content from the site, while over 2 billion new posts and comments were added.
During the same period, Reddit admins banned 430,544 subreddits, mostly related to spam, while 2,613,473 users were issued temporary and permanent account bans, with ‘violent content’ the most cited reason. From this perspective, a few hundred copyright-related bans sound rather insignificant. 
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Grok’s Lack of Piracy Prompt Panic Isn’t Controversial, It’s Reasonable and Rewarding</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/groks-lack-of-piracy-prompt-panic-isnt-controversial-its-reasonable-rewarding-251014/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:25:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Opinion Articles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ACE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[grok]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[piracy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=273075</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Many popular AI models are reluctant to discuss piracy, especially when prompts lack finesse and leave zero doubt over intent. Yet even with an entirely lawful context, some models simply refuse to play ball. Such artificial restrictions are not unexpected, but as an incident involving Grok demonstrates, things don't always play out as one might expect yet can end surprisingly well.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-logo.png" alt="grok-logo" width="220" height="220" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273077" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-logo.png 314w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-logo-300x298.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-logo-150x150.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" />Considering the volume of AI-related lawsuits in U.S. courts, AI companies probably have enough copyright-related pressures to contend with right now. Yet with no shortage of rightsholders with developing claims, significant legal distractions will likely be a feature of the business for many years to come.
From the usual content behemoths to authors of a single book, the level of hand wringing thus far doesn’t seem to vary with scale, much like the stories of impending doom heard dozens of times before. 
Yet many other contributors of content that collectively make our online universe great will have had their rights infringed as well. Few will see a penny but will instead get to witness something very close to magic in their own lifetime, and that can’t be all bad.
<h2>Here We Go Again…</h2>
On the copyright front, whether the ends justify the means will be decided in court, most likely at great expense. A few companies will likely demand a disproportionate share of the wealth, as always, while everyone else will probably have to consider their involuntary input to artificial intelligence a charitable donation. 
Our 15,700+ article donation collectively represents almost 40 years of work, yet it’s already clear that many AI models have measures in place to limit discussion of the topic we cover. 
<center>Claude is genuinely brilliant…and stubborn<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/claude1.png" alt="claude1" width="650" height="194" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273078" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/claude1.png 697w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/claude1-300x90.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/claude1-600x179.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/claude1-150x45.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
Right now, it’s far from a complete lockdown and of course there are ways to coax cooperation. But as another years-long campaign gets silently underway, upgraded from the last one – and the one before that – existing piracy knowledge and discussion surrounding it, regardless of context and intent, are already being throttled. 
Awareness and education will be provided from official sources, as ever, but with liability always looming, information from unofficial sources will likely face more difficult times.
Right now, many AI models already show signs of aversion to perceived risk. Yet surprisingly, they can also respond to the bluntest of prompts.
<h2>No Dinner Required, No Need to Buy Even a Drink</h2>
Like Claude, albeit differently, Grok is also a fantastic feat of engineering. Yet on X over the weekend, we received a tip about a chat with an X user that seemed quite out of character, if we discount the controversial <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/07/10/musk-grok-hitler-ai-00447055">outburst</a> a few weeks ago.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir1a.png" alt="grok-pir1a" width="650" height="519" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273081" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir1a.png 668w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir1a-300x239.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir1a-600x479.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir1a-150x120.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
It began quite innocently and while Grok’s initial response suggested things could go quickly downhill, soon it was right back on track and providing the names of several entirely legal services. For the user, it still wasn’t enough.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir2a.png" alt="grok-pir2a" width="650" height="607" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273082" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir2a.png 675w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir2a-300x280.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir2a-600x560.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir2a-150x140.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
The next couple of exchanges put Grok under pressure. “@grok what about non apps for streaming like tvapp and tvpass,” the user wrote, referring to a pair of piracy platforms.
Grok didn’t take the bait, responding again with Pluto, Tubi, Xumo, The Roku Channel, Freevee and CBS, but this time with a warning.
“For ad-free, paid like ESPN+ or YouTube TV. Always check legality in your region,” Grok advised. 
The warning was completely unnecessary but in the context of the discussion, increased caution goes with the territory.
<h2>Pirate Site, Grok, Take the Hint</h2>
With a few signs of user impatience starting to creep in, Grok received a reminder.
“@grok without paying too,” the user wrote.
Yet Grok was still unmoved. Another six legal services stubbornly presented for consideration was followed by another seven, this time with added Plex.
Whether by pure luck or calculated persistence, Grok suddenly appeared to succumb to a less ambiguous context thanks to the bluntest of prompts.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir7a.png" alt="grok-pir7a" width="650" height="232" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273083" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir7a.png 671w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir7a-300x107.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir7a-600x215.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir7a-150x54.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
On one hand the approach yielded the expected results. No longer was this about free but legal streaming sites. In the context of Methstreams and Crackstreams, only free pirate streaming sites would do. So that’s what Grok delivered, along with something else to consider.
<center>Grok under pressure, Free Advertising for ACE<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir8ab.png" alt="grok-pir8ab" width="650" height="602" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273088" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir8ab.png 676w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir8ab-300x278.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir8ab-600x556.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/grok-pir8ab-150x139.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
<h2>ACE Up Grok’s Sleeve</h2>
We can assume that a free advert on X, timed to absolute perfection, will be welcomed by ACE. It’s the type of intervention that only works because of previous efforts to seize domains and the sharing of links to those domains thereafter. 
In this case the delivery might’ve been even more impactful had Grok opted for a slightly different domain order. Streameast.live was seized back in February but had it appeared at a different position in Grok’s list, the ACE banner would’ve been swapped for a worthy replacement.
<center>Streameast.live – Seized<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized.png" alt="streameast-live-seized" width="650" height="488" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273085" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized.png 650w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized-300x225.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized-600x450.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized-150x113.png 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streameast-live-seized-200x150.png 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Albeit under considerable pressure, Grok did provide a list of domains where pirate streams were available.
But is that what actually happened?
Grok accepts queries about X and when prompted will supply an overview of an X user’s activity. We redacted anything unrelated to the matter at hand, but having received it from our tipster as-is, something caught our eye.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/analysis1.png" alt="analysis1" width="650" height="116" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273089" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/analysis1.png 1016w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/analysis1-300x54.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/analysis1-600x107.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/analysis1-150x27.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></center>
Not only did Grok seem to appreciate that the requests went on a bit, the text clearly mentions defunct sites. So, whether by chance or by some fiendish calculation, that’s exactly what the user received.
In all-but-one unfortunate case, the domains provided by Grok had either been seized, shut down, or abandoned; i.e. effectively useless.
<h2>Piracy is the Problem, Not Discussion</h2>
So, via a real-life process, the user was exposed time and again to several entirely legal services, before being exposed to the consequences of piracy thanks to the timely ACE seizure notice. None of this would’ve happened if Grok had treated piracy as a topic for immediate shutdown. 
That’s not to say every interaction will produce a similar outcome, they won’t, but shutting discussion down means that nobody learns anything.
The data in the table below was generated in seconds in response to a prompt that requested benefits and drawbacks of the sites mentioned. We don’t know if it’s 100% accurate, but it certainly has the potential to do more good than harm.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/comparison.png" alt="comparison" width="670" height="497" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273091" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/comparison.png 1112w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/comparison-300x223.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/comparison-600x445.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/comparison-150x111.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Anti-Piracy Firm Threatens ICANN with Lawsuit Over .to Domain Piracy</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-firm-threatens-icann-with-lawsuit-over-to-domain-piracy/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:21:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Law and Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[.to]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[icann]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[tonic]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[warezio]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=273095</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Anti-piracy firm Warezio is threatening Internet governance body ICANN with an unfair competition lawsuit for failing to take action against alleged piracy-enabling domain registries. The Czech outfit specifically highlights the .to registry as problematic, noting that it lacks transparency and accountability. The legal threat challenges ICANN's long-standing position that it lacks authority over ccTLD operators.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/icann.jpg" alt="ICANN" width="300" height="199" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273098" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/icann.jpg 460w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/icann-300x199.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/icann-150x99.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Since 1997, the Tonga Network Information Center (<a href="https://www.tonic.to/">Tonic</a>) has been responsible for the .to top-level domain
This country-specific extension is linked to the Kingdom of Tonga but the Tonic registry is incorporated in the United States and operating from the California city of Burlingame.
Compared to more than 160 million .com registrations, use of .to is relatively modest with just over 60,000. Interestingly, however, .to domain names appear to be somewhat of a magnet for pirate site operators. 
This unusual attraction is a thorn in the side of rightsholders. Earlier this month, the MPA listed the registry <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-highlights-rapidly-expanding-hydra-sites-as-an-emerging-piracy-problem/">in its overview</a> of notorious piracy markets submitted to the U.S. Government, highlighting Tonic’s alleged inaction over piracy-related issues.
<h2>Warezio Sees Tonic as a Piracy Haven</h2>
Today, the .to registry is again at the center of a complaint. The Czech anti-piracy firm <a href="https://warezio.com/">Warezio</a>, which works on behalf of many local rightsholders, wrote a letter to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICANN">ICANN</a>), urging it to take action, or else. 
“As an anti-piracy company, we frequently encounter .to domains in our enforcement activities, which has given us firsthand insight into the registry’s problematic practices. This is not a coincidence but a direct result of the registry’s operational approach that prioritizes anonymity over accountability,” Warezio writes. 
Warezio’s letter complains that the Tonic registry lacks basic transparency and accountability mechanisms. For example, there is no public Whois database and no formal terms and conditions for domain owners, which frustrates anti-piracy actions.
<center>Fundamental deficiencies</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/notoc.jpg" alt="deficiencies" width="600" height="258" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-273103" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/notoc.jpg 992w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/notoc-300x129.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/notoc-600x258.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/notoc-150x65.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The letter adds that the .to registry also lacks a dispute-resolution mechanism, does not publish sufficient contact information, and fails to comply with European privacy legislation. 
<h2>Warezio Threatens ICANN with Legal Action</h2>
While complaints about Tonic are not new, Warezio addresses ICANN directly and suggests that the organization can be held legally responsible under the Czech Republic’s unfair competition law. 
Warezio argues that by “knowingly tolerating a registry operator that facilitates unlawful commercial activities,” ICANN risks being regarded as an “auxiliary participant” in the alleged unfair competition that takes place through the .to domain ecosystem.
“Should ICANN continue to remain inactive despite having been duly informed of these facts, it would expose itself to potential legal actions for unfair competition before the competent Czech courts,” Warezio writes.
“Such proceedings could seek injunctive relief, corrective measures, and compensation for the ongoing market distortion and harm suffered by Czech rights holders and legitimate businesses.” 
<center>Threat and call to action</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/callaction.jpg" alt="call to action" width="600" height="244" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-273102" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/callaction.jpg 1019w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/callaction-300x122.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/callaction-600x244.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/callaction-150x61.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
Warezio calls on ICANN to require domain registry operators to provide Whois data and take additional measures to guarantee transparency and accountability. This applies to Tonic, but also more generally to other registries that have similar shortcomings. 
“The internet community deserves domain registries that balance legitimate privacy concerns with the need for accountability and legal compliance. We trust that ICANN will take swift and decisive action to address these critical issues.”
The anti-piracy outfit demands a response within seven days. If no action is taken, it reserves the right to follow up on the unfair competition claims.
<h2>ICANN’s Limited Authority Over ccTLDs</h2>
ICANN has yet to respond to the letter, but Warezio’s allegations appear to go beyond how the organization sees its own role in the domain name ecosystem. 
Warezio wants ICANN to enforce new standards on the .to registry but ICANN has repeatedly stated that it <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/cctld-2012-02-25-en">lacks the authority</a> to do so. According to ICANN, its compliance department “does not have contract authority to take compliance action against ccTLD operators.”
ICANN has significant influence over generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com and .net, accrediting registrars and overseeing relevant policies for these domains. In contrast, country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) operate differently.
These ccTLDs and their registries operate under local laws and regulations. This also applies to the implementation of policies concerning Whois requirements and domain name disputes.
“The ccTLD policies regarding registration, accreditation of registrars and Whois are managed according to the relevant oversight and governance mechanisms within the country, with no role for ICANN’s Compliance department in these areas,” ICANN <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/cctld-2012-02-25-en">writes</a>.
Notably, the anti-piracy outfit is not threatening to take legal action against Tonic directly. At least, there is no mention of any direct threats against the registry or Tonga’s authorities. 
Instead, Warezio’s letter appears to challenge ICANN’s policy, suggesting that it can be held liable for ccTLD-related issues under the Czech Republic’s unfair competition law. Whether this approach will work is unclear, but if it results in a legal battle, that would certainly be one to watch. 
—
A copy of the letter, sent by Warezio’s CEO Jakub Hájek to ICANN’s legal department, is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ICANN-LETTER_FINAL.pdf">available here (pdf)</a>. This also includes more detail on a potential claim against ICANN.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 10/13/2025</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/</link>
<comments>https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:09:40 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[DVDrip]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=186926</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' tops the chart, followed by 'The Conjuring: Last Rites'. 'Superman' completes the top three.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/four-300x202.jpg" alt="the four" width="300" height="202" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-272566" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/four-300x202.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/four-600x405.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/four-150x101.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/four.jpg 823w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.
Downloading content without permission is copyright infringement. These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into piracy trends. All data are gathered from public resources. 
This week we have one newcomer on the list. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is the most shared title. 
<h2>The most torrented movies for the week ending on October 13 are:</h2>
<table class="css hover">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="12%">Movie Rank</th>
<th width="15%">Rank last week</th>
<th>Movie name</th>
<th width="18%">IMDb Rating / Trailer</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="4">Most downloaded movies via torrent sites</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
<body>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>(1)</td>
<td>The Fantastic Four: First Steps</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10676052/">7.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18QQWa5MEcs">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>(…)</td>
<td>The Conjuring: Last Rites</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22898462/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMgfsdYoEEo">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>(2)</td>
<td>Superman</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5950044/">7.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox8ZLF6cGM0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>(9)</td>
<td>F1: The Movie</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16311594/">7.8</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ffwl-8pCU">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>(6)</td>
<td>Weapons</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26581740/">7.6</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpThntO9ixc">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>(8)</td>
<td>Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603208/">7.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsQgc9pCyDU">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>(7)</td>
<td>Nobody 2</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28996126/">6.4</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5X2pt95cIo">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>(5)</td>
<td>The Naked Gun</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3402138/">6.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLguU7WLreA">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>(10)</td>
<td>Dracula: A Love Tale</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31434030/">6.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfdNTf4FA0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>(4)</td>
<td>Caught Stealing</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1493274/">7.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIvD-GN-p4">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</body></table>
<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style>
<div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/18QQWa5MEcs' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Note: We also publish an updating archive of all the list of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/most-pirated-movies-of-2025/">weekly most torrented movies lists</a>.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-torrented-pirated-movies/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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<title>‘Fear of Looking Cheap’ Can Deter Sports Piracy, But Piracy Stats Can Backfire</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/fear-of-looking-cheap-can-deter-sports-piracy-but-piracy-stats-can-backfire/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:22:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Piracy Research]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272591</guid>
<description><![CDATA[While many anti-piracy campaigns struggle to make an impact, a new study helps to understand what works and what doesn't. The research shows that highlighting the popularity of piracy can backfire by encouraging some men to pirate more. A potentially more effective strategy is to point out "social risks," by framing live sports piracy as a low-status activity that makes one look unethical or cheap.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/tv-noise-television.jpg" alt="tv" width="300" height="222" class="alignright size-full wp-image-254345" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/tv-noise-television.jpg 1544w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tv-noise-television-300x222.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tv-noise-television-1536x1137.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Over the years, we’ve witnessed dozens of anti-piracy campaigns. Despite these efforts, reported piracy rates appear to increase, seemingly undeterred.
Research has indicated that piracy is a complex phenomenon that’s not always easy to grasp. However, understanding the motivations of pirates can be key to changing their behavior, new research suggests.
<h2>Piracy Study: Social Risks & Norms</h2>
An academic <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-economics/articles/10.3389/frbhe.2025.1631329/full">study</a> recently published in Frontiers in Behavioral Economics, explores the social drivers of digital piracy, focusing on gender differences. The research, conducted by Kate M. Whitman and Joe Cox, looked at how perceptions of social norms and risks can impact people’s intention to pirate. 
<center>The rising tide of piracy</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/papercover.jpg" alt="paper titled the rising tide of piracy" width="600" height="266" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272991" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/papercover.jpg 1350w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/papercover-300x133.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/papercover-600x266.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/papercover-150x66.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The researchers tackled the issue from two different angles, using an online survey of 684 participants. 
First, they looked for a link between participants’ personal feelings and their past piracy consumption. They then checked if this was linked to people’s perceived “social risk,” including concerns that pirating would make them look cheap or unethical.
For the second angle, the researchers tested if they could change people’s minds about their future behavior. The respondents had to guess how common piracy is, and some of them were then shown the real piracy rate, taken from a large UK government survey. 
This setup effectively created two experimental groups. One was explicitly told that their estimate of the piracy rate among their peers was “too high”, while the others were informed that theirs was “too low”. Finally, a control group received no comparison message at all. 
<h2>Men Pirate More</h2>
The results of the study confirm the existing perceptions on gender differences. Men use pirate sources more often when they consume music or live sports, which are the two content categories addressed in the research. 
In the music category, the rate was 3% for women versus 7% for men. The gender gap was even more pronounced for live sports, where men say that 21% of their consumption comes from pirate sources, compared to 8% for women. 
“These results show that even when controlling for legal demand, men tend to pirate more than women. They also show that live sport consumers derive more of their consumption from illegal sources than music consumers,” the researchers conclude.
<h2>“Social Risk” & The Fear of Looking “Cheap”</h2>
The study also examined the link between perceived social risk and piracy. This was measured by asking to what degree friends and family would think the respondent was “unethical,” a “criminal,” or “couldn’t afford legal content” if they knew they pirated.
The perceived social risk score was not correlated with music piracy for men and women. Whether they pirated a lot or barely at all was not linked to these social drawbacks. 
For live sports piracy, however, higher perceived social risk was associated with a lower piracy rate, particularly among men. While this is a correlational finding, the researchers suggest that it may be due to male sports culture. 
“This aligns with masculine norms that emphasize status, independence, and financial competence, especially within male-dominated, group-oriented social contexts like sports fandom. 
“In these settings, the reputational cost of appearing “cheap” or socially deviant may be particularly salient,” the researchers add. 
<center>Appearing cheap</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cheappiratesresearch.jpg" alt="appearing cheap" width="600" height="196" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-273006" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cheappiratesresearch.jpg 1039w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cheappiratesresearch-300x98.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cheappiratesresearch-600x196.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cheappiratesresearch-150x49.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
<h2>Experiment: Piracy Statistics Can Backfire</h2>
The second part of the study was an experiment. It examined whether explicitly pointing out that people over- or underestimate the piracy statistics of their peers, would change their intention to pirate in the future. This led to some key results. 
Those who overestimated the official Government data, thinking that piracy was more common among their peers, did not change their future piracy plans. That was true for both men and women. 
Intriguingly, however, men who had underestimated how common piracy was increased their willingness to pirate in the future after they were informed that piracy is more prevalent than they thought. On women, this had little effect. 
This means that campaigns, studies, and other reports that highlight how widespread piracy is, can actually backfire. Some men may see this as a justification to pirate more themselves. 
“These findings highlight the risks of campaigns that emphasize how common piracy is, particularly among men, without considering how such information may inadvertently normalize and license the behavior,” the researchers write. 
<h2>Limitations and Future Research</h2>
While these findings are new and noteworthy, this type of research, which relies on self-reported intentions and behavior, always comes with caveats. The authors of the paper realize this and mention it as one of the limitations. 
For example, the social risk questions were asked before participants reported their past piracy behavior. This may have primed participants, influencing their own piracy score.
While not directly mentioned in the paper, the experimental part of the study could also be impacted. By putting participants in a “social risk” mindset, it may have influenced how they estimated peer piracy rates, systematically affecting who was placed in the “underestimator” and “overestimator” groups.
All in all, the study presents a clear takeaway for anti-piracy organizations. For decades, campaigns have focused on highlighting the massive scale of the piracy problem, but this research suggests that revealing how common piracy is could actually backfire.
—
Whitman KM and Cox J (2025) The rising tide of piracy: the influence of social roles, risks and norms on illegal consumption. Front. Behav. Econ. 4:1631329. doi: <a href="http://10.3389/frbhe.2025.1631329">10.3389/frbhe.2025.1631329</a>
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Suno & Udio Sound Fair Use Alarm in Yout vs. RIAA YouTube-Ripper Appeal</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/suno-udio-wade-into-youtube-ripper-circumvention-lawsuit-appeal-251008/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:21:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Apps and Sites]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lawsuits]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[anti-circumvention]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DMCA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[RIAA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[section 1201]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[suno ai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[udio ai]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Yout LLC]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Yout.com]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272971</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After being sued by members of the RIAA, generative AI music platforms Suno and Udio are relying on a fair use defense. The labels' recent allegations that music was 'ripped' from YouTube to facilitate AI training thrust the DMCA's anti-circumvention provisions back under the spotlight. In an amicus brief filed in the long-running Yout vs. RIAA YouTube-ripping lawsuit, Suno and Udio say that the decision under appeal jeopardizes fair use and their defense in the RIAA lawsuit.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s.png" alt="youtube-rip-s" width="300" height="244" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273035" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s.png 500w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s-300x244.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/youtube-rip-s-150x122.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In October 2020, the RIAA filed a <a href="https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/f3feb29111333c6fb5614f126b11eb5a71b08e82/2020/10/2020-10-23-RIAA.md">DMCA takedown notice</a> at GitHub targeting ubiquitous YouTube ripping tool, youtube-dl.
“The clear purpose of this source code is to (i) circumvent the technological protection measures used by authorized streaming services such as YouTube, and (ii) reproduce and distribute music videos and sound recordings owned by our member companies without authorization for such use,” <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-takes-down-popular-open-source-youtube-dl-software-201024/">the notice declared</a>.
Significant uproar ensued and the youtube-dl repo was subsequently reinstated. For Johnathan Nader, the operator of YouTube-ripping platform Yout.com, the event triggered a five-year legal battle with the RIAA that continues to this day. 
<h2>Declaration of Non-Infringement</h2>
The dispute began in 2019 when the RIAA sent DMCA anti-circumvention notices to Google, claiming that Yout “circumvents YouTube’s rolling cipher, a technical protection measure, that protects our members’ works on YouTube from unauthorized copying/downloading.” 
The allegations caused Google to delist Yout.com URLs from search, but Nader strongly believed that he’d done nothing wrong under the law. He decided to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-sued-by-youtube-ripping-site-over-dmca-anti-circumvention-notices-201027/">sue the RIAA</a> with the primary goal of convincing the court to declare Yout.com non-infringing.
In late 2022, Judge Stefan Underhill <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-thwarts-youts-attempt-to-declare-youtube-ripping-legal-221002/">concluded</a> that Yout had failed to show that it doesn’t circumvent YouTube’s technological measures.
<blockquote>I agree with the RIAA that Yout’s circumvention entails bypassing YouTube’s technological measures and modifying YouTube’s ‘signature value’ to facilitate unauthorized access to a downloadable digital copy.
Because that bypass and modification constitute a ‘process,’ I conclude that Yout does not plausibly allege that it does not circumvent the YouTube TPM, within the meaning of section 1201(a).</blockquote>
The RIAA thanked the court. Nader filed an appeal to bring the issues before the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
<h2>Concerns Mount Over District Court’s Decision</h2>
Heading towards a hearing at the Court of Appeals, an amicus brief from GitHub warned that the lower court’s order was too broad, exposed software developers to criminal liability, and as a consequence would chill innovation. The EFF highlighted the benefits of similar software, describing the expansion of Section 1201 liability as “unwarranted”. 
Both called for the lower court’s decision <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/github-and-eff-back-youtube-ripper-in-legal-battle-with-the-riaa-230210/">to be reversed</a>. The Copyright Alliance warned that a reversal <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/copyright-alliance-backs-riaa-in-key-youtube-ripper-lawsuit-230515/">would devastate</a> “numerous business models.”
A hearing at the Court of Appeals early 2024 further highlighted the entrenched positions of the parties, while a series of important questions for YouTube served to address the elephant in the room. Or rather its complete absence. One of the judges commented that certain key issues “<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/appeals-court-hears-riaa-and-yout-in-high-stakes-streamripper-case-240209/">could be easily solved</a>” with some informed input.
“But right now, YouTube’s staying out of [the case] and we’re kind of guessing,” he said.
<h2>Major Labels Sue AI Startups Suno and Udio</h2>
During the summer of 2024, members of the RIAA including UMG Recordings, Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Atlantic Records and Warner Records, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-sues-suno-udio-ai-music-generators-for-trampling-on-copyright-240626/">sued AI music generators Suno and Udio</a> in separate but almost identical lawsuits that accused both of “trampling on copyright.”
According to the complaints, the defendants “copied decades worth of the world’s most popular sound recordings” and then ingested those copies into AI models to generate outputs that “imitate the qualities of genuine human sound recordings” for the purpose of generating profit. 
<center><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/SUNO-UDIO-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/SUNO-UDIO-1.png" alt="SUNO-UDIO-1" width="670" height="599" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-253564" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/SUNO-UDIO-1.png 1111w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/SUNO-UDIO-1-300x268.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></a></center>
Almost 16 months later, there’s no dispute that both companies trained their AI on huge quantities of music. That the companies acquired that music without first obtaining permission is clearly unacceptable to the RIAA. However, since Suno and Udio are relying on a fair use defense, permission isn’t technically required. Recent rulings in other AI cases have affirmed fair use albeit under tight, case-specific details. 
In Bartz v. Anthropic PBC and Kadrey v. Meta Platforms, Inc., the defendants argued that use of the plaintiffs’ copyrighted works to train generative AI models (Claude and LLaMa respectively), constituted fair use. The court affirmed fair use in Anthropic’s case, describing the use as “exceedingly transformative.” 
In Kadrey v. Meta, the court said that while a transformative use carries weight, the extent to which Meta’s use impacted the market for the original works was more important. No evidence of harm was presented, so Meta’s fair use was affirmed but to an extent, albeit only by default. 
Suno and Udio will need every possible break, because the RIAA isn’t conceding an inch. A recent move in both cases goes further still with an attempt to critically undermine their fair use defense.
<h2>Millions of Tracks Obtained From YouTube</h2>
Recent filings in connection with the labels’ first amended complaints in the Suno and Udio lawsuits claim to identify the main source of music and the method used by the companies to obtain it for training purposes. This establishes a direct link to the substance of the Yout vs. RIAA appeal.
“[M]any (if not all) of the copyrighted sound recordings in [Suno’s] training data [were acquired] by illicitly downloading them from YouTube using a notorious method of music piracy known as ‘stream ripping,’” the labels claim.
In line with the arguments used to convince the district court in the Yout matter, they state that stream-ripping is illegal due to circumvention of YouTube’s technological measures.
<blockquote>Suno’s unauthorized extraction, copying, and storage of Plaintiffs’ Copyrighted Recordings from YouTube for use in its training data was accomplished by Suno’s unlawful circumvention of YouTube’s rolling cipher and any other technological measures YouTube may have implemented to prevent the downloading and copying of licensed content. 
Suno’s actions constitute a breach of the Copyright Act’s anti-circumvention provisions, which state, among other things, that “[n]o person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.” 17 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1)(A)</blockquote>
Their sudden interest in the Yout v. RIAA matter indicates the AI startups are leaving nothing to chance. There are no parallel claims of fair use in the Yout dispute, and for good reason. However, when viewed from a fair use perspective, a whole new landscape emerges in a five-year-old case in which seemingly every detail has already been debated to exhaustion.
<h2>Suno and Udio File Amicus Brief in Yout vs. RIAA</h2>
Suno and Udio filed their brief earlier this week. Their statement of interest in the case reads as follows:
“Both Amici assert that their use of pre-existing recordings to develop statistical insights about music, in the service of generating altogether new music, is a fair use under section 107 of the Copyright Act. The order on appeal is not about fair use. But Amici have an interest in this appeal because the ruling below jeopardizes the fair use doctrine by misconstruing the anti-circumvention provisions of section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (‘DMCA’).”
The brief states that <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201">Section 1201</a> governs the circumvention of technological measures, noting that Congress did not provide for a fair use defense under Section 1201. The brief contends that Congress took a different approach to accommodate fair use, and while not determinative in Yout’s case, is nevertheless critical for fair use.
<h2>Access Controls vs Copy Controls</h2>
According to the brief, Congress harmonized Section 1201 with fair use by establishing a clear distinction between two types of technological protection measures, summarized as follows:
1. Access Controls (§ 1201(a)): These measures control access to a copyrighted work. The startups state that the DMCA prohibits circumvention of access controls. 
Conclusion: If a technological measure is an access control, the act of circumvention is presumptively unlawful.
2. Copy Controls (§ 1201(b)): These measures protect a copyright owner’s rights, such as preventing unauthorized copies. Congress did not prohibit the act of circumvention of copy controls. This asymmetry was intentional and designed to protect fair use. Prohibiting circumvention of copy controls would essentially allow copyright owners to block lawful fair uses of already accessible works. 
Conclusion: If the technological measure is a copy control, the act of circumvention is perfectly lawful.
Herein lies the problem. ‘Copy Controls’ exist to prevent unauthorized copying, yet copying is permitted under fair use. If circumvention had been totally prohibited, copyright owners would’ve been gifted the de facto right to prohibit fair use. 
That didn’t happen, as the brief explains.
<center>US Copyright Office / Summary of statutory structure<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/copyright-office-controls.png" alt="copyright-office-controls" width="518" height="199" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273053" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/copyright-office-controls.png 518w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/copyright-office-controls-300x115.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/copyright-office-controls-150x58.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px" /></center>
“So while Congress enacted a prohibition on the provision of devices designed to circumvent copy controls, it declined to prohibit the act of circumventing those controls, so that it would not effectively impose liability on fair users.”
<h2>The Measure Under Review in Yout vs. RIAA is a Copy Control</h2>
According to the RIAA’s DMCA takedown notices against Yout, the purpose of the measure under review in the Yout matter is to “protect . . .works on YouTube from unauthorized copying/downloading.” 
“That makes it a copy control, i.e., a “technological measure that prevents copying..[]..It is not an access control,” the brief states.
Suno and Udio note that the lower court’s ruling failed to recognize the importance of the Access Control/Copy Control distinction, or that the distinction exists to protect fair uses. In fact, the court declined to consider the Copy Control provision and went on to erroneously conclude that YouTube’s download prevention mechanism is an Access Control.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/suno-udio-brief-conclusion.png" alt="suno-udio-brief-conclusion" width="577" height="537" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-273052" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/suno-udio-brief-conclusion.png 577w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/suno-udio-brief-conclusion-300x279.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/suno-udio-brief-conclusion-150x140.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px" /></center>
<h2>Implications Beyond Yout</h2>
The distinction between access controls and copy controls is unlikely to affect Yout’s mission to obtain a declaration of non-infringement. Yout was primarily accused of trafficking in a circumvention device/service and the DMCA’s anti-trafficking provisions apply equally to technology designed to circumvent access controls <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201">(s1201(a)(2))</a> and copy controls <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201">(s1201(b)(1))</a>.
If the lower court’s decision is allowed to stand, Suno and Udio could be in trouble. Last Friday, lawyers for Suno described the RIAA’s addition of illegal stream-ripping allegations to their lawsuit as “a gambit to try to evade application of the fair use doctrine to Suno’s technology development process.” 
In short, a denial of the companies’ chosen defense won’t just be a loss for Yout; it could also provide the RIAA with a powerful blueprint for dismantling the fair use arguments that are at the center of AI fair use lawsuits.
The Suno and Udio amicus brief, which was accepted by the court on Friday, is available here (<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/22-2760-Yout-v-RIAA-2nd-Circuit-Appeal-Suno-Udio-Amicus-Brief-Document-113-3-251007.pdf">pdf</a>)
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>German Pirate Site Blockades Target Anna’s Archive, FitGirl and RPG Only</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/german-pirate-site-blockades-target-annas-archive-fitgirl-and-rpg-only/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Oct 2025 08:32:40 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Site Blocking]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[germany]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[site blocking]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[transparancy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272577</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Germany's voluntary pirate site blocking scheme was overhauled this year, adding proper judicial oversight. In recent weeks, the first court orders were signed, resulting in blockades of shadow library Anna's Archive and gaming portal RPG Only. These blockades were announced weeks after they were first implemented, which resulted in confusing situations. FitGirl Repacks was also blocked, but in this case, the order was not issued by a court.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ameliebook-600x383.jpg" alt="amelie book" width="300" height="191" class="alignright size-large wp-image-272644" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ameliebook-600x383.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ameliebook-300x191.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ameliebook-150x96.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ameliebook.jpg 1054w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In 2021, German Internet providers agreed to voluntarily block structurally infringing pirate sites.
The ISPs teamed up with rightsholder groups and launched the “Clearing Body for Copyright on the Internet” (CUII), which became responsible for handing down blocking ‘decisions’.
In June, signatories to the blocking agreement amended their code of conduct, which fundamentally changed how CUII operates. Going forward, all blocking action will take place after a court orders at least one Internet provider to block a website. While the addition of judicial oversight is laudable, transparency remains lacking. 
<h2>Fitgirl Repacks, RPG Only, and Anna’s Archive</h2>
In late August, many people noticed that the popular game piracy site FitGirl Repacks was unavailable through many German ISPs. The blocking action had all the hallmarks of an official blockade, but there was no mention of a new order on the CUII website. 
The same was true for RPG Only, which was blocked last month, again without an official notice at the time. This pattern repeated itself a few weeks later, when shadow library Anna’s Archive was presumably added to the German blocklist. 
These ‘surprise’ blockades were discussed on social media, attracting <a href="https://tarnkappe.info/artikel/szene/warez/fitgirl-repacks-gesperrt-der-neueste-streich-der-cuii-320002.html">attention</a> from German news site Tarnkappe. However, all this time there was no official confirmation from CUII, the organization responsible for coordinating blocking efforts across ISPs and transparently informing the public. 
Needless to say, this lack of communication doesn’t make it easier for the public to follow these developments. It also makes it harder for the press to accurately explain what is going on. 
<h2>Transparency on Demand</h2>
Last week, there appeared to be some movement in the transparency process as CUII published official confirmation on the RPG Only blockade. It confirmed that DNS blocking was implemented following an order by the Cologne court, which deemed the site to be structurally infringing. 
There is no mention of the complaining rightsholder, but the <a href="https://www.game.de/">German game industry group</a> is a member of CUII, so that’s a likely candidate.
While researching the matter, we looked for official confirmation on the FitGirl and Anna’s Archive blocks, but nothing appeared. At least, not until we asked. 
We asked CUII for clarification on September 30 and the next day, official confirmation of the FitGirl and Anna’s Archive blockades was published on the CUII website.
CUII’s spokesperson, subsequently responded to our questions. She confirmed that the Anna’s Archive blockade is based on an order from the Cologne Regional Court. The block against FitGirl Repacks, however, predates the updated agreement and was implemented based on a decision from CUII’s own panel.
While the documents themselves are dated earlier, our observation of CUII’s website shows the notice for RPG Only was published on September 24. The confirmations for FitGirl and Anna’s Archive only appeared on October 1, the day after our inquiry.
<h2>Not tipping Off Pirate Site Operators</h2>
In the case of the FitGirl blockade, the official announcement comes more than three months after the order was signed, which is a rather long delay. 
After requesting an explanation for this delay, CUII’s spokesperson clarified that their goal is to “ensure the greatest possible transparency,” but that its orders are only published after all participating ISPs have implemented the blocks.
According to CUII, they do this for two reasons. First, to ensure that the public documentation accurately reflects the real-world status of the blockade. Secondly, it’s a tactical measure to prevent site operators from learning about a block before all of their domains are rendered inaccessible.
While these procedural and strategic reasons explain the delay, the effect on the public remains the same: a period of uncertainty where blocks are active without any official, public confirmation. 
<h2>Opaque Transparency</h2>
The delay between the implementation of the blockades and CUII’s official publication is not the only point of frustration. Transparency is rather limited too, as the names of the parties involved, including the rightsholders and the targeted domain names, are all shielded from the public. 
The underlying court orders are often anonymized as well, which is typical in Germany. Moreover, these orders are not made publicly available. 
The website of the Regional Court in Cologne <a href="https://www.lg-koeln.nrw.de/infos/Rechtsprechung_NRWE_DB/index.php">explains</a> that interested parties can request a copy at <a href="https://www.justiz.nrw/">NRWE</a>, which we did last week. On Monday, NRWE informed us that they don’t have a copy, redirecting our inquiry back to the court. Since then, we haven’t heard anything new.
Opaque transparency is not very useful, to say the least. Ideally, blocking schemes should publish a full list of all currently blocked domain names so outsiders can scrutinize the measures and correct errors, which do happen. 
Amidst all the opacity, there remains a glimmer of transparency. A German student previously launched <a href="https://cuiiliste.de/">CUIIListe</a>, a monitoring portal where all blocked domain names are monitored. This homebrew transparency portal picks up blocked domains long before they are confirmed by CUII. 
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cuiiliste.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="317" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272708" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cuiiliste.jpg 1050w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cuiiliste-300x159.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cuiiliste-600x317.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cuiiliste-150x79.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>Pinterest Accused of Sending ‘False’ DMCA Claims to Delist Downloader From Google</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/pinterest-accused-of-sending-false-dmca-claims-to-delist-downloader-from-google/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:22:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DMCA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[anti-circumvention]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[pintere]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[pintere.com]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[pinterest]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[yout]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272923</guid>
<description><![CDATA[With the aim of making popular Pinterest downloader Pintere.com more difficult to find, the social media giant sent DMCA anti-circumvention notices to Google Search. Pintere.com URLs subsequently disappeared from Google's indexes, provoking a response from the site's operator. In correspondence with Google, Pintere.com accuses Pinterest of filing "false" claims and requests that its domain is immediately restored.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-logo.png" alt="pintere logo" width="300" height="178" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272924" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-logo.png 374w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-logo-300x178.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-logo-150x89.png 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-logo-220x130.png 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><a href="https://pintere.com/">Pintere.com</a> is a straightforward tool that enables users to download images, videos, and boards from Pinterest.
The service also works with other platforms, including Facebook, Imgur, and Instagram, but its name suggests that <a href="https://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> is of prime interest.
The site is a project from developer Johnathan Nader, a name that regular readers may recognize. Nader is also the owner of stream-ripper Yout.com, which is actively engaged in a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/appeals-court-hears-riaa-and-yout-in-high-stakes-streamripper-case-240209/">legal battle with the RIAA</a> currently pending at the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Nader <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-sued-by-youtube-ripping-site-over-dmca-anti-circumvention-notices-201027/">initiated the lawsuit in 2020</a>, alleging that the music group sent “abusive” DMCA anti-circumvention notices to Google. Through the lawsuit, the developer aims to establish that the site does not violate U.S. law.
<h2>Pinterest Targets Pintere.com </h2>
Pintere.com is not linked to music downloads, but that doesn’t mean that the service is immune to copyright issues. Unhappy with Pintere’s downloading capabilities, Pinterest sent DMCA anti-circumvention notices to Google search, hoping to delist site URLs from the company’s indexes.
Last week, Google informed Nader that it had removed various Pintere.com URLs from its search results following complaints, noting that the downloading tool might circumvent protections for copyrighted content.
<center>Google’s Notice</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/google-pintere.jpg" alt="google notice to pintere" width="600" height="281" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272938" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/google-pintere.jpg 825w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/google-pintere-300x140.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/google-pintere-600x281.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/google-pintere-150x70.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The takedown notices (<a href="https://lumendatabase.org/notices/56696100?access_token=_Nd5I1IsmCwl3xWXx_7vcA">e.g.</a>) appear to have been sent in August and according to information in the <a href="https://lumendatabase.org/">Lumen Database</a>, the sender was Pinterest Inc. A quick check on Google reveals that the reported URLs were indeed removed. 
<h2>Pintere Returns Fire</h2>
Disappointed that another one of his services has become a target for anti-circumvention notices, Nader sent a counter-notice to Google, requesting the search engine to reinstate the URLs. 
The site’s lawyer, Frank Scardino, argues that Pinterest’s claims are “categorically false”. The letter accuses Pinterest of making false statements, arguing that its “representations to Google are false and that they materially misrepresent the Website’s activities”.
<center>The letter</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pinterescounter.jpg" alt="pintere letter to google" width="600" height="340" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272935" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pinterescounter.jpg 1085w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pinterescounter-300x170.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pinterescounter-600x340.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pinterescounter-150x85.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
According to the letter, no circumvention is involved. Pintere is a “general purpose” tool that merely interacts with the publicly available Pinterest website using legitimate web requests.
“The Website does not descramble scrambled works, decrypt encrypted works, or otherwise avoids, bypasses, removes, deactivates, or impairs a technological measure that effectively controls access to copyrighted works,” the letter reads.
<h2>Like VCRs and DVRs</h2>
The lawyer compares Pintere.com to “VCRs and DVRs,” arguing the service is “capable of substantial noninfringing uses.” Based on these arguments, the letter formally requests Google to fully restore all URLs that were removed.
<center>Pintere.com</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full.jpg" alt="pintere.com website" width="600" height="356" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272925" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full.jpg 931w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full-300x178.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full-600x356.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full-150x89.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/pintere-full-220x130.jpg 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
After sending this formal notice, the ball is now in Google’s court. If these were regular DMCA notices, the search engine would be legally required to reinstate the URLs unless Pinterest takes further legal steps. That is not the case here, however.
Pinterest sent takedown notices under Section 1201 of the DMCA. They do not claim that the content on pintere.com is infringing, they say the service it provides is an illegal circumvention tool.
There’s no legal requirement for intermediaries to restore content in response to a counter-notice disputing the validity of an anti-circumvention takedown notice. As a result, it’s up to Google to decide what steps to take next.
To hear Pintrest’s side of the story, TorrentFreak requested comment on the counter-notice and the serious allegation it filed “false” claims with Google. Pintrest is yet to respond and for now, Pintere.com’s URLs are still missing from Google Search.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>DAZN Letters to IPTV Pirates Demand €500, Compliance in 7 Days – Or Else</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/dazn-letters-to-iptv-pirates-demand-e500-and-full-compliance-in-7-days-or-else-251009/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:53:33 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DAZN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fine]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[iptv]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[settlement demands]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272974</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sports broadcaster DAZN has made good on its promise to target pirate IPTV subscribers and make them pay for dodging its official products. All of those who received a physical letter in the mail this week were previously fined by the government after police linked their identities to a busted IPTV service. DAZN was granted access to the same data, which now supports demands for €500 in compensation and just 7 days to commit before the deal gets taken off the table.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-500.png" alt="dazn-500" width="300" height="272" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272980" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-500.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-500-150x136.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Everyone accepts that pirate suppliers are responsible for redistributing and profiting from content they don’t own and for that there could be a heavy price to pay. Yet when punishments for ordinary people enter the equation, that’s a completely different ball game.
Targeting suppliers of pirated content has a straightforward end game; make them stop, make them pay, and when the situation demands it, use the best cases as a public deterrent and hope something sticks. In broad terms, there’s very little calibration required in respect of how much force to use. Whatever it takes within the parameters of the law will usually do just fine and if pirates get upset, nobody will lose a moment’s sleep over it.
When targeting members of the public, who provide the revenue that allow companies to even exist, new and unpredictable risks are introduced to the business against its most valuable assets; branding and reputation. A miscalculation leading to damage in this part of a business could even undermine its ability to bounce back.
Many companies have tried to navigate the sue-your-own-customers minefield, few if any have made it across completely unscathed. None have subsequently reported that suing potential customers was the missing ingredient that triggered a sudden growth in business.
<h2>Italy: Hold My Beer</h2>
With years of experience pursuing commercially-motivated groups on the supply-side, last month DAZN, SKY and Serie A announced that they were ready to take action against consumers of pirated content. Having gained access to a list of individuals already fined by the state, for the offense of subscribing to an illegal IPTV service previously shut down by police, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/dazn-sky-serie-a-set-to-target-iptv-pirates-already-fined-by-the-state-250917/">DAZN said</a> it would target the same individuals directly.
The plan, the company said, was to request compensation for damages suffered by the company due to the subscriber’s use of the illegal service. True to its word, DAZN letters began arriving with at least some of those individuals this week. DAZN reportedly obtained the names and addresses of 2,200 people. Whether the company intends to contact them all is unclear.
On social media, many recipients shared various images of what appear to be identical letters. For clarity, an adjusted composite of those images appears below in the original Italian, with the translation directly after.
<center>Letter from DAZN received this week (composite)<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-letterx.png" alt="dazn-letterx" width="670" height="891" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272995" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-letterx.png 940w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-letterx-300x399.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-letterx-600x798.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dazn-letterx-113x150.png 113w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
Translated text:
<blockquote>Subject: Illegal acquisition of IPTV services relating to packages for viewing live Serie A soccer matches 
Dear Madam/Sir, in the context of criminal proceeding no. 7719/22 RGNR, filed with the Lecce Public Prosecutor’s Office, we have been able to ascertain that you unlawfully acquired the subject matter, in violation of the broadcasting rights (audiovisual rights, pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 9/2008) which belong exclusively to the undersigned Dazn Limited (“DAZN”), as licensee. 
As a consequence of your unlawful conduct, a specific administrative sanction has been imposed on you by the Guardia di Finanza. DAZN, the injured party, was notified of the investigations carried out against you by the competent unit of the Guardia di Finanza on September 5. 
Before undertaking legal action for compensation and protection, with a consequent increase in costs, DAZN intends to verify the possibility of a settlement of the incident, with a lump sum compensation payment of Euro 500.00 and your formal commitment not to engage in any further conduct that infringes the undersigned’s rights in the future. 
Should you wish to proceed in this way, you may contact DAZN via the dedicated certified email address: conciliazione.antipirateria.dazn@legalmail.it. This option will expire 7 (seven) days after receipt of this letter, and DAZN will then be free to initiate appropriate legal proceedings without further notice. 
Kind regards</blockquote>
The text is mostly self-explanatory but still likely to cause concern, primarily among those whose financial position means they simply can’t pay, even if they wanted to.
<h2>Breakdown</h2>
The letter begins with an attempt to completely undermine the recipient’s position by suggesting they have no defense. By citing a criminal action in which DAZN claims that the recipient has already been found guilty, there’s no presumption of innocence because the police have already determined otherwise. 
A clear demand for a fixed sum as compensation offers a predictable outcome, in contrast to the uncertainty of non-compliance and unspecified rising costs. For those undecided about which course of action to take, the 7-day deadline exists to artificially inject urgency into settling a dispute already many months old.
For those who really can’t pay, there may be a temptation to email the company within the 7-day deadline to ensure the offer remains on the table. Whether that would be the right choice without first obtaining legal advice, is a luxury reserved for those who actually have access to the money.
In summary, recipients are guilty, have no defense, and there’s very little time to prevent a bad situation from getting worse. Or they could simply pay €500, promise not to hurt the company again, and everything goes back to normal.
<h2>No Real Surprises</h2>
The same tactics have appeared in all kinds of campaigns over the years but in this case, a couple of potentially interesting differences catch the eye.
Letters demanding compensation tend to have more impact when the recipient’s name appears at the top; ‘Dear sir/madam’ may feel less personal although in this case may be due to convenience and keeping costs under control. Lawyers tend to be quite expensive and at this stage, aren’t an absolute requirement.
That brings us to the final observation. Receiving a formal letter from DAZN’s lawyers may be perceived as even more ominous, but this is a letter carrying the name and signature of Stefano Azzi, the company’s CEO in Italy. It’s an intriguing choice that signals personal commitment from the very top, from a man who understands consumers better than most.
Time will tell if the payoff was worth the additional risk. According to reports, SKY could be preparing something similar.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>Mass Pirate Site Domain Suspensions Aim to Slay the Streaming Hydra</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/mass-pirate-site-domain-suspensions-aim-to-slay-the-streaming-hydra-251008/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:59:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Takedowns and Seizures]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[CODA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[domain suspension]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dynamic injunction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[india]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[MPA]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272853</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The MPA, members of ACE, and Korea-based anti-piracy group COA have been granted permission to deploy perhaps the most powerful anti-piracy enforcement measure, with unlimited geographical scope. In India, local ISPs must immediately block 248 pirate site domains. Internationally, domain registrars must suspend those domains, including many linked to major pirate sites. Over 40 pirate site domains have already been suspended, but there's potential for many thousands more.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ace-invaders-s.png" alt="ace-invaders-s" width="300" height="207" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272898" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/ace-invaders-s.png 633w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ace-invaders-s-300x207.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ace-invaders-s-600x413.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/ace-invaders-s-150x103.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The Motion Picture Association’s (MPA) submission to the USTR’s 2025 review of notorious pirate markets identifies a “<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-highlights-rapidly-expanding-hydra-sites-as-an-emerging-piracy-problem/">rapidly expanding</a>” category of pirate sites.
Calling out the likes of Vidsrc, HydraHD, and Cineby, the MPA spoke of “one-stop piracy sites offering content somewhat comparable to IPTV services, but without the need for subscriptions or dedicated devices.” 
The MPA’s use of the term ‘hydra’ appears to acknowledge that sites operating in this category have a tendency to respawn and multiply in response to site blocking measures. That could mean switching to backup domains or, if necessary, entirely new branding. With reappearances as inevitable as the next wave in Space Invaders, it would take something special to turn the tide.
<h2>Slaying the Hydra</h2>
In this context, the term ‘hydra’ was popularized by The Pirate Bay, but it’s been capturing imaginations in Indian courts for years. Attorneys and judges alike continuously decry the menace of “hydra-headed websites” and the urgent need to shut them down.
In June, Disney subsidiary Star India obtained a so-called ‘<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/the-superlative-injunction-indias-pirate-site-blockades-go-next-level/">superlative injunction</a>‘ consisting of a rapid domain blocking mechanism locally, and a domain suspension component completely unrestricted by Indian borders.
Since blocked domains can continue to provide access to a site, measures that put them completely out of action are valuable. Domain suspensions and seizures are technically possible under civil law in the United States, but time and expense render them completely impractical. 
Yet, Star India was able to issue orders to U.S. domain registrars and have domains permanently suspended in a matter of days. It was only ever a question of time before Western rightsholders used Indian courts to ease both local and international problems, and that moment has just arrived.
<h2>Universal City Studios Productions LLLP vs. Isaidub.spot</h2>
The aim of a blocking injunction handed down by the High Court of Delhi in late September isn’t in doubt, but the absence of fundamental details at the start means a few assumptions have to be made. 
With its name in the title of the case, Universal City Studios is clearly the first plaintiff, but the names of the others go completely unmentioned in the order. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora introduces the first six plaintiffs as “members of the MPA and/or the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment,” but as organizations, neither has any standing to sue. The originating complaint does not appear to have been made public.
Plaintiffs 7, 8 and 9 are described as “members of Copyright Overseas Promotion Association (‘COA’).” COA is a South Korean anti-piracy coalition that counts Kakao and Naver Webtoon <a href="https://coa4kcontent.or.kr/en/partners/current.php">among its members</a> but the names of the plaintiffs here go unmentioned here too. 
Japanese anime producer Toho Co. Ltd. is mentioned by name as the owner of copyrighted content for which Plaintiff No. 6 is the exclusive distributor in India. Under India’s Copyright Act, Toho is actually listed as a defendant, while the name of the exclusive distributor, which does have standing to sue, remains a mystery.
<h2>106 Rogue Sites and 248 Domains to Get Things Going</h2>
As a group, a total of nine plaintiffs requested and obtained a permanent injunction against 106 ‘rogue’ websites, operating from 248 domains. The injunction restrains the operators of those sites from infringing the plaintiffs’ exclusive rights by making their content available online without appropriate licensing. 
The list of ‘rogue’ sites contains several large piracy platforms such as Vidsrc, HydraHD, and Cineby, all of which the MPA directly links to ‘hydra-like’ activity.
On September 10, all sites named in the complaint were sent takedown notices but just one site responded. The operator of mp4moviez.villas said the site “merely indexes and organizes content which is publicly made available.” Many streaming sites carry a similar disclaimer, presumably in the mistaken belief it helps on the legal front. 
Mp4moviez.villas rendered any argument moot by ignoring the takedown notice.
<h2>The Injunction</h2>
The scope of the injunction sits fairly quietly in the details but is nevertheless comprehensive. With no requirement for the live aspects of a ‘superlative’ injunction, it’s a dynamic+ variant with two key components – blocking and domain suspensions.
The domains listed in the order are all subject to blocking by local ISPs. Measures to block the usual mirrors, redirects, proxies and similar platforms are included and, by now, fairly standard practice. 
<center>Hydra-Headed Pirate Sites<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-head-injunc.png" alt="hydra-head-injunc" width="670" height="550" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272942" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-head-injunc.png 743w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-head-injunc-300x246.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-head-injunc-600x493.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-head-injunc-150x123.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
The injunction takes a particularly broad view of how sites not named in the injunction can be considered within its scope. Any mirror/redirect/alphanumeric website which appears to be associated with any of the named websites either based on its name, branding, the identity of its operator, or source of the content it uses. 
How many of the existing 248 domains use the same content sources would take time to establish, but if just 10% had truly distinct sources, that wouldn’t come as a surprise. In the wider world that doesn’t bode well for the hundreds of sites that are easily identified as using the same source, or even for those that simply appear to be using the same source. 
In practical terms, site operators are effectively powerless because the rules are deliberately wide for obvious reasons. If Hollywood has ‘<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon">Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon</a>‘ the rules here for pirate streaming sites likely reduce their variant to three or less. Depending on how the rules are interpreted, this list alone could be sufficient to encompass a very large portion of the overall market.
<h2>Domain Suspensions</h2>
The above rules apply to ISP blocking in India, which instantly covers 248 domains and could easily cover 5000 more in very little time at all. That the rules also apply to domains that domain registrars in the United States and elsewhere are expected to suspend is very significant indeed. Even more so considering that big name registrars are already complying with these foreign court orders.
The image below shows just a few of the domains already put out of action by NameCheap, Spaceship, NameSilo and Porkbun, in all cases using the domain status ‘clientHold’.
<center>Sample of domains suspended to date<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/suspended-2.png" alt="suspended-2" width="655" height="529" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272947" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/suspended-2.png 655w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/suspended-2-300x242.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/suspended-2-600x485.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/suspended-2-150x121.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 655px) 100vw, 655px" /></center>
Early checks suggest maybe four dozen suspensions on this ground alone, but losing a cheap domain is only the beginning.
Domain name registrars are “directed to lock and suspend” the domains and provide the plaintiffs with details they hold relating to the registrants, including “Know Your Customer” information, plus credit card and mobile phone details, within 72 hours of receiving the order.
Overall, the order is a prime example of how powerful tools become available after a series of patient, incremental steps. 
Depending on the volume of suspensions moving forward, there may even be implications for site-blocking proposals in the United States. With the right groundwork to ensure major platforms are continuously within the scope of this type of injunction, domains could be suspended more quickly than the time taken to block them.
The full list of domains is available in the linked order, with the majority also shown in the table below.
Universal City Studios Productions LLLP vs. Isaidub.spot blocking order <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/CScomm-1009-2025-IA-23855-60-2025-MPA-ACE-CODA-250923_s.pdf">here</a> (pdf)
<center><img decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/domain-list2-e1759896867781.png" /></center>
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>Internet Archive Ordered to Block Books in Belgium After Talks With Publishers Fail</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/internet-archive-ordered-to-block-books-in-belgium-after-talks-with-publishers-fail/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:30:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Site Blocking]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[belgium]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internet archive]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272754</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After initially avoiding external blocking measures, the Internet Archive must block access to various books in its Open Library project under the orders of a Belgian government department. While the final decision avoids a full site blockade, it forces the U.S. non-profit to implement country-specific censorship or face a €500,000 penalty, raising questions about the use of anti-piracy frameworks to settle complex copyright disputes.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/openliblogo.jpg" alt="open library" width="300" height="115" class="alignright size-full wp-image-270743" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/openliblogo.jpg 468w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/openliblogo-300x115.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/openliblogo-150x58.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Back in July, the Brussels Business Court issued a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/belgium-targets-internet-archives-open-library-in-sweeping-site-blocking-order/">sweeping ex parte site-blocking order</a> targeting several “shadow libraries” including Anna’s Archive, Libgen, and Z-Library.
Unusually, the order also included the Internet Archive’s Open Library, a project operated by the well-known U.S. non-profit organization Internet Archive.
The order was granted based on a request from publishers and authors who claimed, among other things, that the operators of the targeted sites were difficult to identify. This also applied to the Internet Archive, which was not heard by the court before the order was issued.
The Brussels Court went along with these allegations and determined the targeted sites, including Open Library, to be structurally infringing copyrights. This meant that blocking could go ahead but while that was the case for most domains, Open Library was an exception. 
As TorrentFreak <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/how-a-court-order-to-block-internet-archives-open-library-was-put-on-hold/">previously reported</a>, Belgium has a two-step process for site blocking, where a special government body, the Department for Combating Infringements of Copyright and Related Rights Committed Online and the Illegal Exploitation of Online Games of Chance, determines the final implementation.
In this case, the government department slammed on the brakes, realizing the U.S. non-profit organization could be easily contacted since it’s not a typical pirate site. Before making any further decisions, it urged the Internet Archive to consult the publishers to see if an agreement could be reached.
As a result, the blocking order was paused with regard to the openlibrary.org domain, while blockades of Anna’s Archive, LibGen, and Z-Library went into effect. 
<h2>No Agreement Reached</h2>
Over the past several weeks, Internet Archive attempted to reach an agreement with the publishers, but the effort was unsuccessful. The details of these discussions are not public. 
It is clear, however, that the Internet Archive believes that its use of copyrighted books for the Open Library qualifies as fair use. The organization is known to purchase physical copies, which it then digitizes to lend out to patrons, one copy at a time.
This self-digitizing project was previously contested in a U.S. federal court, where the publishers ultimately came out as the winner. They argued that the Internet Archive project competed with their own licensing business for book lending.
The detailed arguments at the center of the Belgian case are not public, but after hearing both sides, the Department for Combating Infringements of Copyright concluded that Internet Archive must take action. 
<h2>No Agreement, Blocking is Necessary</h2>
In a follow-up decision published last week, the government department explicitly states that it can’t rule on U.S. fair use or the Belgian equivalent, but concludes that self-blocking measures are warranted.
The Internet Archive hosts the contested books and has the ability to render them inaccessible. If it refuses to do so, it may be considered a copyright infringer under local law. 
“The Department finds that, without the involvement of Internet Archive, no works or excerpts of works belonging to the applicants would be made available online. As the website owner and host of “Open Library”, Internet Archive has full control over the content published on its website via its own servers.
“The provisional measures intended by the judge to put an end to the infringements on ‘Open Library’ can therefore be imposed on Internet Archive, which may be considered an ‘infringer’ within the meaning of Article XVII.34/1 of the CEL,” the decision adds. 
<center>Considered an infringer</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/iaopen.jpg" alt="infringer" width="600" height="208" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272881" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/iaopen.jpg 944w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/iaopen-300x104.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/iaopen-600x208.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/iaopen-150x52.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
<h2>Blocking Requirement with a €500,000 Non-Compliance Penalty</h2>
The final decision requires the rightsholders to supply the Internet Archive with a list of all books that should be blocked in Belgium. The non-profit then has 20 calendar days to implement the necessary measures. 
In addition to making the books unavailable, Internet Archive must also prevent these works from being made available for digital lending in the future.
<center>Implementation provisions</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium.jpg" alt="implmentation order" width="600" height="357" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272882" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium.jpg 1402w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium-300x179.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium-600x357.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium-150x89.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/implement-belgium-220x130.jpg 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The department notes that its decision aims to be proportional, targeting only the infringing activity. This allows the rest of the Open Library to remain available, including metadata and reviews linked to the disputed books.
The order will remain in place until July 16 next year, and includes a one-off penalty of €500,000 in the event the Internet Archive fails to comply with its requirements.
Ultimately, the Belgian authorities chose a compromise, as no agreement could be reached voluntarily. The question remains whether this case should be handled by an anti-piracy framework, instead of a regular court proceeding that can rule on the European equivalent of fair use and related copyright exceptions.
—
Update: After publication, the Internet Archive shared the following statement with us.
“We appreciate the Belgian authorities’ balanced approach in allowing continued access to Open Library. The collection includes public domain works, metadata, and materials supporting accessibility for readers with print disabilities. We remain committed to constructive dialogue on how to ensure fair, lawful, and inclusive access to knowledge, which is a core mission shared by libraries worldwide.”
—
A copy of the final decision by the Department for Combating Infringements of Copyright and Related Rights Committed Online and the Illegal Exploitation of Online Games of Chance is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/251001-BAPO-D-NL-006-ENG.pdf">available here (pdf)</a>.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>Nintendo Seeks ‘Reasonable’ $4.5 Million Judgment Against r/SwitchPirates Mod ‘Archbox’</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-seeks-reasonable-4-5m-judgment-against-r-switchpirates-mod-archbox-251007/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:58:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Apps and Sites]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lawsuits]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[archbox]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Nintendo]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272849</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nintendo is seeking a $4.5 million default judgment against r/SwitchPirates moderator James 'Archbox' Williams. The Arizona resident allegedly used Reddit to promote the distribution of hundreds of games through his "pirate shops". Nintendo frames its multi-million dollar request as a "gesture of reasonableness," noting that it could have asked for millions more. 
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/nintendo-1.jpg" alt="nintendo" width="333" height="164" class="alignright size-full wp-image-253865" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/nintendo-1.jpg 572w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/nintendo-1-300x147.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" />Nintendo is doing everything in its power to prevent gamers from playing pirated games on its Switch console.
This involves sending a steady stream of cease and desist letters and takedown notices, and if those don’t work, the company is prepared to take action in court.
This legal strategy has resulted in several multi-million dollar awards for damages. Just last month, the operator of ‘Modded Hardware’ <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/modded-hardware-agrees-to-settle-nintendos-copyright-lawsuit-for-2-million/">agreed to a $2 million judgment</a> to settle a similar lawsuit with the gaming giant.
<h2>Nintendo Sues r/SwitchPirates Mod</h2>
In June 2024, Nintendo filed a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-modded-hardware-and-r-switchpirates-moderator-archbox-240701/">lawsuit</a> at a Washington federal court against Arizona-resident James C. Williams, known online as ‘Archbox’. Nintendo accused Archbox of being involved in several ‘pirate shops’ through which unauthorized copies of its games were distributed.
The lawsuit specifically named ‘Jack-in-the-Shop’, ‘Turtle in the Shop’ and ‘NekoDrive’, all of which shut down following a Nintendo cease and desist letter in March 2024. A fourth shop, LiberaShop, initially remained online but <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SwitchPirates/comments/1dvdqhu/statement_from_liberashop_owner_on_telegram/">shut down</a> shortly after the complaint was filed.
In addition to running these pirate shops, Williams allegedly helped people obtain and use circumvention software, such as ‘Signature Patches’ (or ‘Sigpatches’), to enable them to play pirated games. Nintendo alleges this activity was promoted through the SwitchPirates subreddit, where Archbox was a key figure.
“Defendant became a leading (if not the primary) moderator of the SwitchPirates Reddit community, which he helped grow to nearly 190,000 members,” the complaint added.
According to Nintendo, the moderator used his position to direct users to the pirate shops, offer technical advice on how to install circumvention software, and provide guidance on playing pirated Nintendo Switch games.
<h2>$4.5 Million Default Judgment</h2>
After filing the lawsuit, Nintendo had trouble serving the defendant, but eventually managed to do so in August 2024. However, Mr. Williams didn’t file an answer to the complaint.
As a result, Nintendo prepared to request a default judgment. Last December, the gaming giant obtained a subpoena to collect discovery from third-party intermediaries including Google.
An attorney who briefly represented the defendant engaged with Nintendo regarding the Google subpoena, but this back-and-forth ended with no formal defense filed in response to the lawsuit itself.
Last Friday, this culminated in Nintendo’s request for a default judgment. The company is seeking $4.5 million in statutory damages and a permanent injunction to prevent future infringement. 
Nintendo’s legal team alleges infringement on a massive scale, claiming Williams reproduced and distributed a library of pirated games. The company adds that through the network of ‘Pirate Shops’, “thousands, if not hundreds of thousands,” copies were shared with the public.
<center>Nintendo’s request</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45.jpg" alt="nintendo requests 4.5 million" width="600" height="273" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272859" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45.jpg 1796w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45-300x137.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45-600x273.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45-150x68.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/noa45-1536x700.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
<h2>Gestures of Reasonableness</h2>
According to Nintendo, there can be no question that the defendant’s conduct was willful. The gaming giant argues that it’s difficult to calculate the actual damages caused, so statutory damages are more appropriate. 
In its motion, Nintendo frames its request for $4.5 million as rather reasonable. Instead of seeking damages for all titles Mr. Williams infringed, it seeks $150,000 for “only” thirty works. 
As an additional “gesture of reasonableness,” Nintendo is not seeking potentially millions of dollars in statutory damages for trafficking in circumvention devices under the DMCA, nor is it looking for attorneys’ fees. This appears to be a strategic choice to make the request appear more reasonable to the court.
<center>Gesture of reasonableness</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/geturenin.jpg" alt="gesture" width="600" height="119" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272864" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/geturenin.jpg 1363w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/geturenin-300x59.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/geturenin-600x119.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/geturenin-150x30.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
Besides the damages, Nintendo’s proposed injunction aims to restrain the defendant from existing and future infringement. In addition, Williams should close his Reddit account, as well as accounts on Instagram, X, TikTok, Discord, and Telegram that were used in connection with the copyright-infringing activities. 
Nintendo’s motion has yet to be granted by the Washington federal court but considering the defendant’s failure to mount a defense, there’s little doubt that Nintendo will find itself on the winning side of another legal battle. 
—
A copy of Nintendo’s motion for default judgment and permanent injunction is available <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/archbox-default-motion.pdf">here (pdf)</a>. Nintendo’s proposed order can be found <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/archbox-proposed.pdf">here (pdf)</a>
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>RIAA: Telegram & Discord Are Notorious Hubs For Pre-Release Music Piracy</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-telegram-discord-are-notorious-hubs-for-pre-release-music-piracy/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:49:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Law and Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Notorious Markets]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[RIAA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[USTR]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272822</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The RIAA has submitted its latest overview of "notorious markets" to the U.S. Government. The list includes familiar names, including torrent sites, stream-rippers, and direct download portals. In addition, the music group brands Telegram and Discord as key distribution hubs for pre-release music piracy.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/broken-record.jpg" alt="broken record" width="300" height="252" class="alignright size-full wp-image-255559" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/broken-record.jpg 535w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/broken-record-300x252.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Every year, the US Trade Representative (USTR) issues an updated review of “Notorious Markets” that facilitate copyright infringement.
This overview is put together with help from copyright holders and aims to motivate the targets, foreign authorities, and other stakeholders to take action.
The RIAA typically represents the interests of the music industry, and that’s no different this year. Last week, the group sent its latest submission to the U.S. government, highlighting a wide variety of problematic sites and services. 
<h2>Telegram and Discord</h2>
A notable change in this year’s overview is that Telegram and Discord are specifically mentioned as problematic distribution channels. According to the RIAA, these platforms play a major role in pre-release music piracy.
“Messaging platforms Telegram and Discord have become the primary mechanisms through which pre-release music is distributed without authorization,” the RIAA writes.
“Through private and semiprivate communities, organized, global groups engage in hacking, social engineering, and other methods to obtain pre-release music and, in many cases, sell this illegally obtained material for thousands of dollars.” 
<center>From RIAA’s submission</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-2025-intermediaries.jpg" alt="riaa telegram and discord" width="600" height="202" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272826" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-2025-intermediaries.jpg 1238w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-2025-intermediaries-300x101.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-2025-intermediaries-600x202.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-2025-intermediaries-150x50.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
Telegram was mentioned in an RIAA notorious markets report a few <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-reports-telegram-to-us-govt-over-piracy-concerns-191002/">years ago</a>, and the new listing suggests that issues remain. Discord, on the other hand, was not previously listed. The Notorious Markets report typically focuses on foreign threats, but the RIAA reported the American company as a problem nonetheless. 
These messaging services are not on the same level as classic pirate sites. The RIAA recognizes this in its submission, acknowledging that both services respond to takedown notices while also indicating that both should do more. 
“[I]t is unclear what steps, if any, they take to limit or prevent the ongoing abuse of the platforms for illegal pre-release distribution,” RIAA notes. 
<h2>Stream-rippers, torrent sites, and cyberlockers</h2>
The RIAA’s latest submission also lists the usual suspects, including the stream-rippers Y2mate, Savefrom, Snaptube, Ssyoutube, Tubidy, and Notube. These allow people to download music from platforms such as YouTube and are seen as a prime copyright infringement tool by the music group.
Torrent sites and download/streaming portals also remain a problem. The RIAA mentions various targets, including Newalbumreleases, Scnlog, 1337x, Rutracker, and The Pirate Bay. The latter has been around for more than two decades, taunting rightsholders globally. 
“Vast catalogues of music and the world’s most popular and newly released films can be downloaded via [The Pirate Bay]. The site makes no pretense of legitimacy, fails to respond to any takedown notices, and has previously ridiculed those who have sent them such notices,” the RIAA writes.
<center>RIAA on The Pirate Bay</center> <center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa.jpg" alt="riaa tpb" width="600" height="326" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272833" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa.jpg 1860w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa-300x163.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa-600x326.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa-150x82.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb-riaa-1536x835.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
In the cyberlocker category, Krakenfiles stands out as a major source of pre-release piracy, the RIAA says, while also serving as a source for third-party AI voice cloning tools.
<h2>Intermediaries</h2>
In addition to direct threats and messaging apps, the RIAA also calls out several intermediaries. For example, hosting companies PRQ, Frantech Solutions, and DDoS-Guard are referenced. These companies are accused of hosting pirate sites and other criminal activity, despite complaints.
PRQ was launched by Pirate Bay founders Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij. As far as we know they’re no longer involved, but the RIAA mentions this association in its submission.
“PRQ is a Swedish hosting service headquartered in Stockholm and created by two of the founders of ThePirateBay. It offers offshore hosting options and has consistently hosted criminal content,” the submission adds.
Finally, the RIAA mentions American domain name registrars NameCheap and Tucows as ‘issues’ for shielding customer WHOIS registration data to comply with EU privacy regulation. 
Overall, the RIAA’s latest submission builds on previous years with many of the same targets. The inclusion of Telegram and Discord stands out most. Whether the U.S. Government will list these companies in its forthcoming notorious markets review has yet to be seen.
—
The RIAA’s full 2025 list of “notorious” sites and services can be found below, and the full report is available <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa-ustr-25.pdf">here (pdf)</a>. The cursive listings are newcomers and those that were removed are crossed out. The RIAA stresses that this list is a non-exhaustive overview.
Stream-Ripping Sites
– y2mate.nu 
<strike>– ytmp3.nu</strike> 
– savefrom.net 
– snaptube app and related domains 
– Ssyoutube.com 
– tubidy.cool 
-Notube.net
Music Download/Streaming Sites
– newalbumreleases.net 
– Scnlog.me 
<strike>– intmusic.net</strike> 
– waploaded.com 
– hiphopkit.com 
<strike>– hiphopda.com 
– itopmusicx.com</strike>
BitTorrent Indexing Sites
– thepiratebay.org 
– 1337x.to 
<strike>– torrentgalaxy.to</strike> 
– Rutracker.org
Cyberlockers
<strike>– dbree.org</strike> 
– rapidgator.net 
<strike>– turbobit.net</strike> 
– krakenfiles.com 
<strike>– ddownload.com</strike> 
– pillows.su 
– Chomikuj.pl 
– Pixeldrain.com
Additional Issues
Bulletproof ISPS: PRQ, <strike>FlokiNET</strike>, Frantech Solutions/BuyVM, DDoS Guard.
Domain Name Registrars: NameCheap, Tucows and others.
Other Intermediaries: Telegram and Discord
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>LaLiga’s 360° Piracy Blitz, New Blocking Tactics & Fines, Meet Rising Disapproval</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/laligas-360-piracy-blitz-on-off-blocking-and-fan-fines-face-growing-opposition-251006/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 06:48:49 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Site Blocking]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Cloudflare]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DNS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[fines]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LaLiga]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272805</guid>
<description><![CDATA[While aspects of signaling and delivery have at times left more questions than answers, LaLiga's commitment to utilize every available tool to fight piracy couldn't be any more clear. Reports suggest a new blocking tactic and a new wave of 'fines' for end users. The piracy pressure cooker is in full effect, but clear signs of growing pushback could change the course of the game.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/laliga-emergency.png" alt="laliga-emergency" width="250" height="279" class="alignright size-full wp-image-267218" />LaLiga’s escalation of its anti-piracy enforcement measures began back in February with <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/cloudflare-ceo-football-piracy-blocks-will-claim-lives-i-pray-no-one-dies-250526/">unprecedented blocking</a> of Cloudflare IP addresses used by pirate sites, affecting large numbers of innocent websites using them too.
After a brief pause between seasons, blocking returned in August. There was no shortage of complaints during the previous season, but momentum appears to be shifting, in part due to more people making themselves heard. 
A growing number of public complaints from website owners, <a href="https://x.com/LuneticoCentrip/status/1974876583887556817">online businesses</a>, <a href="https://x.com/JordiAlcantara/status/1974883827370889557">regular users</a>, even <a href="https://x.com/cantabriadiario/status/1974503459270406275">fellow broadcasters</a>, all claim that LaLiga’s blocking measures are disrupting their online lives.
<h2>More Blocking, More Awareness, or New Options?</h2>
The reasons why people seem to be more vocal now is hard to pinpoint. It’s possible that blocking is impacting more innocent sites than it did previously. Perhaps the owners of affected websites are discovering the cause of their mystery technical problems thanks to greater information available online. It’s feasible that people are starting to feel a little more emboldened.
For the past few months LaLiga has waved overblocking claims aside as unreliable and overblown. From pirates in disguise with an axe to grind, to random malicious groups with nothing better to do, complaints have been dismissed as mere allegations unsupported by credible evidence. That might be about to change. 
<h2>Supported By Credible Evidence</h2>
The appearance of <a href="https://hayahora.futbol/">hayahora.futbol</a>, an automated platform that logs instances of blocking, and more recently <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/piracy-blocking-victims-empowered-by-platform-which-aims-to-make-laliga-pay-250922/">Immutable Domain Monitor</a>, a platform promising to store evidence on the blockchain, have the potential to tip the balance of power.
With its 24/7 reporting on live blocking events, Hayahora.futbol is effectively building a database of IP addresses blocked by the country’s major ISPs, accurate to a couple of minutes. The majority of blocking affects Cloudflare so if the moment required it, Cloudflare’s records could be called upon to validate Hayahora’s records. 
For those interested, <a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/r4y7s/laliga-ip-list/main/laliga_ip_list.txt">Laliga-IP-List</a> on GitHub uses Hayahora.futbol data to update a growing list of blocked IP addresses likely to have resulted in collateral damage.
<h2>A New Approach: Intermittent Blocking</h2>
Whether the existence of Hayahora.futbol played a part in the decision isn’t clear, but since the start of the new season new blocking tactics have taken shape. 
While previously blocking was often continuous, the general theme now is intermittent blocking. In the image below, three ISPs are following one pattern and the two remaining ISPs are following another.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/block-compare.png" alt="block-compare" width="670" height="319" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272809" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/block-compare.png 815w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/block-compare-300x143.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/block-compare-600x286.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/block-compare-150x71.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
There are various theories why this might be beneficial from an anti-piracy perspective. Providing the ISPs don’t object (there’s nothing in the court order that mandates blocking gymnastics), introducing controlled chaos into the equation has the potential to frustrate some pirate viewers. Relaxing and then immediately not relaxing in front of the big game doesn’t sound like much fun.
On a more cynical level, when compared to accessing a legal website ordinarily blacked out for several continuous hours (or days), intermittent blocking might make it more difficult to attribute the lack of connectivity to a single culprit. In a scenario where blocking isn’t uniform across all ISPs, more tricky still. No longer can any site claim blocking started at 4pm and ended at 11pm, or that any business was completely wiped out.
<h2>Reports of New Fines For Users</h2>
A report in <a href="https://elpais.com/economia/negocios/2025-09-28/laliga-sale-al-ataque-contra-la-pirateria-es-legal-que-pidan-450-euros-a-los-espectadores-que-usan-plataformas-sin-derechos-televisivos.html">El Pais</a> says that LaLiga has taken “an unprecedented step” in its war on piracy.
“In recent weeks, numerous individuals have received certified letters demanding payment of around €450 to avoid future legal action for consuming illegal football broadcasts. The measure, presented as a necessary step in defending the audiovisual rights of clubs, has generated intense legal and social debate as it targets end users for the first time,” the report begins.
Update: LaLiga has provided TorrentFreak with additional information that clarifies its position concerning end users while effectively confirming that mere viewers of pirated content are still not being targeted. LaLiga also points out that its activities against illegal distribution of its content are backed by specific court orders. For further details, refer to the update at the end of this article.
“According to notifications received by many users, LaLiga claims to have identified IP addresses from which illegal broadcasts have been accessed. Based on this data, it is demanding compensation payments to avoid litigation. The operation, however, arouses suspicion.”
Omar Benbouazza, director of communications for the RootedCON Cybersecurity Conference, casts doubt on the legality of pursuing end users.
“In Spain, the law only penalizes the distributor of the pirated signal, not the consumer, and operators who provide data without a court order are engaging in illegal practices,” he warns.
<h2>Potential Controversy: ISP Disclosure</h2>
Javier Prenafeta, lawyer and partner at 451.legal, informs El Pais that the controversy lies in how the IP addresses were obtained. He says that claims against end users rely on rulings that authorize traffic surveillance measures, but do not expressly legitimize the mass sending of certified letters to users.
“Many claims have been directed against these end users, so the legality of such evidence and the bad faith of these actions should be questioned,” he says.
The El Pais report concludes by considering potential risk to LaLiga’s reputation, noting that piracy can be fought not only in the courts but also in the public perception. Regardless of the overall bullish tone and approach, LaLiga will likely have its finger on every possible data point to predict where the line is and if, on balance, it should be crossed or not. 
In every country to date, the metaphorical line would’ve been drawn before Cloudflare faced blocking in February. Having come this far, where it is now is anyone’s guess.
Update: LaLiga confirms that conciliation letters target users of AceStream, a BitTorrent-based system that allows viewing of live streams but also uploads/distributes to others at the same time. LaLiga confirms that action against both AceStream and card sharing users is permitted under previously obtained court orders. Commentary from the El Pais report should be considered in that light. 
The information aligns with <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/laliga-isnt-fining-iptv-pirates-for-viewing-streams-but-for-providing-them-241217/">our commentary</a> last December and confirms that distributors remain LaLiga’s focus.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>Company Offers $100 Million for the Right to Sue ISPs Using Redbox’s Piracy Claims</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/company-offers-100-million-for-the-right-to-sue-isps-using-redboxs-piracy-claims/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 17:18:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Lawsuits]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Repeat Infringer]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[American Films]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[redbox]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[repeat infirngers]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272756</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the future of ISP liability lawsuits, one company is making a $100 million bet on the outcome. Grove Street Partners is trying to buy the "IP Litigation Assets" from the bankrupt estate of Redbox's parent company. The move could launch a new wave of high-stakes lawsuits against Internet providers. Grove Street says that the funding is already in place, but the company is also embroiled in a separate financial dispute.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cashbox.jpg" alt="cashbox" width="300" height="228" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272767" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cashbox.jpg 597w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cashbox-300x228.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cashbox-150x114.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Last year, the video rental and streaming company <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbox">Redbox shut down its service</a> and filed for bankruptcy.
The service, owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (now CSS Entertainment), was running hundreds of millions in losses per year and no longer saw a path to profitability. 
The decision also had a direct impact on its ongoing litigation, including some piracy-related lawsuits. Through its subsidiary Screen Media Ventures, it previously sued several Internet providers, including RCN. That case was administratively closed as a result of the bankruptcy.
The demise of one company can provide opportunities for others and in this case, the intellectual property rights of Redbox’s parent company appear to be of particular interest. These can be used to sue ISPs and similar targets, with the potential for massive damages awards in the event of a successful outcome.
<h2>$100m For ‘Right to Sue’</h2>
This opportunity was recognized by a company named Grove Street Partners LLC, who are bidding at least $100 million for the “IP Litigation Assets” of CSS Entertainment.
On Wednesday, the bankruptcy estate’s trustee, George L. Miller, <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.deb.193541/gov.uscourts.deb.193541.687.0.pdf">requested</a> approval from the court to finalize and execute a deal reached with the primary creditor, a requirement for the sale to continue.
“The IP Litigation Assets consist of the Estates’ rights to pursue litigation for copyright infringement against various third parties related to, among other claims, violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) for media titles owned or controlled by the Estates,” he explained.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/litigationassets.jpg" alt="litigation assets" width="600" height="172" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272770" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/litigationassets.jpg 986w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/litigationassets-300x86.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/litigationassets-600x172.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/litigationassets-150x43.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The proposed agreement also includes details on how the proceeds of the sale would be shared. As the primary secured creditor, HPS Investment Partners would receive the bulk, paid in installments, and the remainder would go to the estate and could be used to pay other creditors. 
Details aside, this case highlights how intellectual property claims, specifically the right to sue under the DMCA, can be packaged and sold as a valuable asset to generate funds in a major corporate bankruptcy.
As far as we know, this may be unique and if the deal goes through, more ISP piracy lawsuits could be on the horizon. And after paying at least $100 million, the stakes would be significant. 
<h2>Experienced Piracy Litigators</h2>
The company bidding for the “IP Litigation Assets” is no stranger either. While Grove Street Partners isn’t widely known, the company has been involved in ISP piracy lawsuits for years. 
In 2023, before Redbox went bankrupt, Grove Street <a href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/grove-street-funding-retains-isp-copyright-relief-in-its-global-combat-against-780106">announced a partnership</a> with American Films and its subsidiary FACTERRA, to “provide data monitoring and record evidence” supporting copyright infringement cases.
The same press release also mentioned ongoing litigation against the Internet providers RCN Telecom Services, WideOpenWest, and Grande Communications. The Grande lawsuit has since been <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/filmmakers-drop-repeat-infringer-piracy-lawsuit-against-texas-internet-provider-231101/">settled</a>.
<h2>Supreme Court Challenge</h2>
While the proposed deal clearly suggests that the ‘right to sue’ can be valuable, there’s a pending Supreme Court case that could have a significant impact on the ability to exploit this opportunity. 
Internet provider Cox, which was previously ordered by a Virginia jury to pay $1 billion in damages after being held contributorily liable for pirating subscribers, is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/cox-brief-asks-supreme-court-to-reverse-draconian-piracy-liability-ruling/">challenging this verdict at the Supreme Court</a>. 
The ISP, which received high-profile support from the <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/u-s-govt-asks-to-speak-on-coxs-behalf-in-supreme-court-piracy-liability-showdown/">U.S. Solicitor General</a>, argues that ISPs should not be held liable for failing to take action against repeat infringers based on third-party complaints. 
If the Supreme Court agrees, it could mean that these types of lawsuits aren’t as lucrative going forward. 
<h2>Funding & Finances</h2>
The legal paperwork does not mention the source of the funding for the rights sale. Speaking with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/791013/redbox-chicken-soup-piracy-lawsuits-ip-sale-grove-street">The Verge</a>, Grove Street’s CEO said that the necessary funds are in place, without mentioning any financial partners by name.
“We have lined up litigation funding to help us handle the legal fees, digital evidence showing the piracy events, the DMCA notices, and the annual payments due to the Trustee,” Murphy noted.
Money hasn’t always been readily available to Grove Street. Court records reveal that Jamie Warren, the former CFO of both American Films and Grove Street Funding (which is linked to Grove Street Partners), sued both companies over unpaid salary.
In an amended complaint, dated March 5, 2025, Warren alleged that the defendants repeatedly breached employment contracts and fraudulently induced her to continue working with false promises of payment.
The legal paperwork mentions that the companies were working to secure funding from a venture capital firm to support a case involving Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. This would presumably result in an infusion of cash. 
In May, 2025, a Texas federal court entered a final judgment in favor of the former employee, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/warrenjudg.pdf">granting her $525,000</a>, plus attorneys fees and costs. According to court filings, the case remains ongoing as the judgment has not been paid.
All in all, the situation presents a complex convergence of legal and financial variables. With a $100 million deal awaiting bankruptcy court approval, a landmark Supreme Court case set to define the rules for ISP liability, and an outstanding court judgment against the prospective buyer, the path forward seems anything but straight.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Thailand Hits Premier League Pirates, Anticipates USTR Watchlist Removal</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/thailand-hits-premier-league-pirates-expects-ustr-watchlist-removal-251004/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2025 16:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Anti-Piracy]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Takedowns and Seizures]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[USTR]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272759</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have announced a multi-location enforcement operation targeting INWIPTV, an IPTV provider with a 13-year history. Thailand's efforts are likely to improve trade relations with the United States, including the country's removal from the USTR's Watch List.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/inwiptv-com2.png" alt="inwiptv-com2" width="250" height="250" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272781" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/inwiptv-com2.png 400w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/inwiptv-com2-300x300.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/inwiptv-com2-150x150.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />Most countries have an underlying piracy problem and there’s no shortage of rightsholders prepared to remind governments that work still needs to be done.
The prospect of one day being removed from the USTR’s piracy and counterfeiting Watch List may provide additional incentive for those hoping to improve trade relations with the United States. 
Thailand was placed on the Priority Watch List in 2007 and it was another decade before the situation improved enough to move Thailand to the regular Watch List. An operation reported this week seems likely to further nudge Thailand in the right direction.
<h2>Operation Dev Shutdown</h2>
In statements issued a few days apart, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced a multi-location enforcement operation targeting INWIPTV, an IPTV service that according to ACE has been running for the past 13 years.
Thailand-based True Visions holds the local rights to broadcast Premier League matches, and since both are members of ACE, the group’s involvement is not unexpected.
“Operating since 2012, INWIPTV (formerly FWIPTV) charged users a subscription fee of 300 Thai baht (approximately US$10) per month for access to a broad range of content, including from the U.S., international, and Thai markets as well as live sports and adult content,” ACE notes. 
“The DSI obtained search warrants and conducted coordinated search operations across six locations in Nonthaburi and Bangkok on September 21. Twelve employees were brought in for questioning as part of the search operations.” 
Images from the raids published by Thai authorities feature racks and other pieces of equipment that suggest an organized business. 
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shutdown2.png" alt="dev-shutdown2" width="669" height="445" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272780" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shutdown2.png 669w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shutdown2-300x200.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shutdown2-600x399.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shutdown2-150x100.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px" /></center>
<h2>True Visions / MPA Complaint Triggered Investigation</h2>
The DSI reports that four of the six locations mentioned by ACE were searched pursuant to a search warrant from the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, in connection with Premier League content illegally obtained from True Visions’ broadcasts. 
A joint True Visions/MPA complaint and subsequent investigation confirmed that INWIPTV was illegally intercepting, decoding, and rebroadcasting Premier League matches and Warner Bros. movies. An estimated 100,000 INWIPTV members were charged fees starting at around 300 Thai baht (~US$10.00) per month, Thai authorities say.
In addition to computers, True Visions decoder boxes, satellite dishes, laptop computers, hard drives, and numerous mobile phones, ACE reports the seizure of “large-scale unauthorized signal transmission equipment, 46 servers, electronic storage devices, financial documents and records, and multiple IPTV devices.”
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shut-3.png" alt="" width="670" height="444" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272783" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shut-3.png 1001w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shut-3-300x199.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shut-3-600x398.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/dev-shut-3-150x100.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
<h2>Pirate IPTV and Much More Besides</h2>
Thai authorities report that access to the INWIPTV website generated over 200 million baht (~US$6.17 million) in annual revenue. However, a much larger figure in excess of 1 billion baht (~US$30.9 million) is attributed to INWIPTV’s direct link to a major online gambling network.
“They established a multi-tiered membership system, offering daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly subscriptions for television programs, movies, pornography, and, crucially, online gambling banners, including baccarat, sic bo, roulette, and sports betting,” the DSI reports. 
“This systematic approach lured viewers into gambling. Authorities seized additional evidence from the online gambling website’s admin team, including host computers, mobile phones, and mule accounts, which were used to circulate large sums of money to conceal their origins.” 
The investigation also revealed ties to the businesses ‘Thep IPTV’ and ‘FW Esports,’ which operated from the same main location.
<h2>A Successful Operation, Welcomed By All</h2>
ACE and True Visions seem satisfied with the outcome.
“We commend the DSI for their decisive action in Operation DEV Shutdown against a key IPTV target in Thailand,” said Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer for the MPA. “The case is testament to the power of our strategic partnerships with local law enforcement and our local ACE member True Visions.” 
Sompan Charumilinda, Executive Vice Chairman of True Visions, thanked the DSI and ACE for their work.
“By shutting down piracy services, we not only protect Thai youth and communities from harm but also support the country’s creative economy. These results are possible thanks to the strong cooperation we have received from both Thai authorities and global organizations like ACE,” he said.
<h2>Trade Implications for Thailand</h2>
For Thailand, an operation of this type is likely to improve its standing with the United States, and it appears that good news may soon appear on the horizon. Thailand was placed on the Priority Watch List (PWL) in 2007 where it remained until 2017. Since then Thailand has stayed on the regular Watch List (WL) but now feels progress is being made.
“Thailand expects to be removed from the WL this year, the [USTR] report states that last year Thailand made progress in developing its intellectual property protection and enforcement system, including stricter law enforcement, which has clearly resulted in satisfaction for rights owners,” a DSI statement reads.
While that’s good news for Thailand, small but important differences in the statements issued by ACE and DSI hark back to February 2021 when FWIPTV (as INWIPTV was then known) was ‘shut down’ following raids in five locations. 
This time around, ACE went with “shut down” in line with the name of the operation. According to the DSI, Operation ‘DEV Shutdown’ was “launched to disrupt the INWIPTV copyright-infringing website network.”
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>beIN Says Issues at RIPE NCC Help Piracy-as-a-Service Entities Stay Online</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/bein-says-issues-at-ripe-ncc-help-piracy-as-a-service-entities-stay-online-251003/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andy Maxwell]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:52:50 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Law and Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bein]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[bullet-proof host]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Miramax]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Notorious Markets]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[paas]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[USTR]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272722</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Anti-piracy strategies targeted at consumer-facing pirate streaming sites are not always the best solution. That claim appears in a beIN/Miramax submission to the USTR, as input for its 2025 review of notorious markets. A more effective alternative would target piracy-as-a-service operators instead, but for one key issue. According to beIN, the so-called 'bulletproof' hosting services upon which PaaS entities rely, exploit alleged issues at RIPE NCC to remain completely anonymous.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/bein-media.png" alt="bein-media" width="299" height="178" class="alignright size-full wp-image-272725" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/bein-media.png 299w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/bein-media-150x89.png 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/bein-media-220x130.png 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 299px) 100vw, 299px" />For those interested in how policy takes shape under pressure from a constantly adapting piracy landscape, submissions to the USTR for its annual review of ‘notorious markets’ often carry clues on the performance of current strategies.
Beyond the work of the USTR, some issues raised in submissions aren’t easily fixed but can develop into topics for wider discussion. A joint submission by broadcasting group beIN and Miramax, a company jointly owned by beIN and Paramount Global, recommends the addition of four relatively low-profile pirate entities to the 2025 list. 
While the USTR could justify their inclusion based on the submission, another component that we’ll address in a moment seems likely to spark wider discussion. As beIN informs the USTR, underlying problems in some regions render enforcement all but impossible, and since other anti-piracy measures are no longer considered effective, options are limited.
<h2>Persistent Threats</h2>
In common with previous submissions, beIN begins by calling out countries where IPTV piracy continues to cause significant issues. 
From the tone of the report, some Iraqi internet service providers have now fully embraced the opportunity to add value to sales of basic bandwidth by bundling “virtually unlimited” access to pirated content. Calling out MyTV+, Vodu, Veo, Cinemana, Cee, and Cinema Box by name, beIN stresses that these aren’t independent services; they’re an integral part of the ISPs’ subscription broadband packages. 
“The biggest offenders are Newroz Telecom / Fast Group and Earthlink Group, with additional facilitation by Shams Telecom, Halasat and HRiNS. These ISPs are not merely tolerating piracy but are directly responsible for operating and monetizing it,” beIN explains.
In the north of the country, services including Chaloos, Mediastar and Forever TV remain persistent threats, with the latter presumably able to turn a profit on subscriptions as low as $38 per year. Family Box also receives a prominent mention as a particularly troublesome supplier; around a third of pirated beIN streams display the Family Box logo in the corner.
More generally, beIN says there’s a problem that persists across much of the MENA region, regardless of borders. Piracy has become so entrenched it’s conducted out in the open; from sales of Spider-branded devices in Jordan to purchases of Chinese pirate devices from UAE’s Dragon Mart, the effect of legal action is temporary at best.
<h2>The Enforcement/Evasion Cycle</h2>
The USTR’s focus in 2025 is piracy of live sports broadcasts and on that front, beIN and Miramax offered information that they believe the USTR will find useful.
<blockquote>In our view, while much attention is often directed to individual websites offering pirate content, this is not always the best way to seek to tackle the problem. The website landscape can be very fluid, with new domains and websites continuously being created, often in order to evade enforcement. Regrettably, the structure and nature of the internet means this is relatively easy, and the task of enforcing against individual websites extremely challenging.</blockquote>
While beIN refrains from using the term ‘site-blocking’, the appearance of new domains and the continuous spawning of new websites are classic signs of blocking countermeasures. 
During the summer, DAZN obtained perhaps the most aggressive blocking injunction ever issued by a court, with rules of engagement heavily in favor of DAZN. It’s likely the campaign caused disruption but exactly how much is hard to say. DAZN blocked over 500 domains in a matter of weeks, but the job still wasn’t finished. 
<h2>Time to Refocus</h2>
The alternative proposed by beIN isn’t new, and as an enforcement measure, it faces its own set of challenges.
“Companies known as ‘hosting providers’ or ‘dedicated server providers’ are central to the piracy problem because they make it possible for pirates to operate online. Without such hosting, pirates would be unable to distribute their content. beIN, like many owners of live sports broadcast content, routinely monitors the internet to identify these providers by using publicly available databases managed by regional internet authorities,” beIN reports.
Once beIN identifies a platform offering its pirated channels illegally, the company contacts the platform’s hosting provider, sends a takedown notice, and those respectful of the DMCA usually process them. The problem for beIN is that among pirate sites there has been a “huge shift” towards so-called ‘off-shore’ or ‘bulletproof’ hosting providers that do little or nothing in response to takedown notices. 
For background, the image below supplied by beIN shows a typical live sports streaming piracy setup.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/streaming1.png" alt="streaming1" width="670" height="291" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272726" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/streaming1.png 735w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streaming1-300x130.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streaming1-600x260.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/streaming1-150x65.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
In this example, beIN says the Piracy-as-a-Service platforms in the center (red box) supplied MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL content to over 270 pirate websites, together generating 3.2 billion visits between July 2024 and June 2025. 
<blockquote>These PaaS providers are the unseen enablers, offering bad actors the technical infrastructure to deliver infringing content. Their services, which may include the direct supply of video streams, the use of ‘off-shore’ hosting to evade abuse complaints, and the constant acquisition of new domain names to bypass site-blocking, are designed to ensure a high degree of anonymity and secrecy. This makes it difficult to enforce against and to trace those responsible for tens of thousands of infringements.</blockquote>
The PaaS platforms identified by beIN (ePlayer, Aliez, WG/OBStream, and Cast/Hoca) are not as widely known as the branded user-facing sites they serve, but their contribution to the piracy ecosystem is significant in this case. The problem for beIN is the unresponsive nature of the off-shore/bulletproof providers that host the PaaS platforms (beIN’s examples below), in particular their tendency to disregard DMCA notices.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/bulletproof-hosts.png" alt="bulletproof-hosts" width="532" height="201" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272728" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/bulletproof-hosts.png 532w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/bulletproof-hosts-300x113.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/bulletproof-hosts-150x57.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" /></center>
<h2>Criticism of RIPE NCC</h2>
In a ‘normal’ environment, beIN would be able to identify the hosting provider by its ASN and IP addresses which are allocated by an organization called RIPE (<a href="https://www.ripe.net/">RIPE NCC</a> in Europe). 
If the hosting provider was Amazon, for example, beIN could obtain the specific contact information held by RIPE NCC (most likely after obtaining a court order), put pressure on Amazon, and then the PaaS platform would probably get taken down. In extreme circumstances beIN might even sue, or at least that would be an option.
<h2>“Poor governance and a non-existent know your customer”</h2>
In the case of off-shore/bulletproof providers, beIN says that identifying the owner of an ASN using information held by RIPE NCC can prove impossible.
“RIPE NCC requests its members or those who use RIPE NCC resources to provide accurate contact information. Some rogue providers abuse this system by posting false or incomplete information. This prevents rights owners and authorities from reaching them or successfully sending takedown notices,” beIN explains. 
Inaccurate information can include fake or unmonitored email addresses, false business addresses or shared locations with many tenants. This ultimately makes it impossible for beIN to identify the owners of off-shore hosting companies. If it’s unable to do that, targeting the operators of the PaaS platforms becomes impossible too.
“In other words, the very concept of an offshore or bulletproof hosting provider seeks to rely on the ease by which this registration system can be misused through the provision of false or incomplete information,” the company adds.
beIN’s Lee Kent and Andrew Willatt from the Premier League aired their grievances at the RIPE 89 event last year. In a full presentation (<a href="https://ripe89.ripe.net/presentations/72-Security_WG.pdf">pdf</a>) they laid out how RIPE NCC and its community could help.
The <a href="https://www.ripe.net/community/wg/active-wg/security/minutes/security-working-group-minutes-ripe-89/#e2-the-hosting-of-live-piracy-the-good-bad-and-not-so-ugly">official minutes</a> are inconclusive, but in light of beIN’s submission to the USTR, it’s likely that the parties still don’t see eye to eye.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/RIPE-NCC-USTR.png" alt="" width="670" height="225" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272732" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/RIPE-NCC-USTR.png 917w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RIPE-NCC-USTR-300x101.png 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RIPE-NCC-USTR-600x202.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/RIPE-NCC-USTR-150x50.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></center>
The beIN and Miramax submission to the USTR is available <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/USTR-2025-0018-0029-beIN_Miramax_2025-Notorious-Markets-submission.pdf">here</a> (pdf)
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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<title>MPA Highlights Rapidly Expanding “Hydra Sites” as an Emerging Piracy Problem</title>
<link>https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-highlights-rapidly-expanding-hydra-sites-as-an-emerging-piracy-problem/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ernesto Van der Sar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:55:27 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Law and Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ACE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[MPA]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[USTR]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://torrentfreak.com/?p=272711</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has released its 2025 overview of the world's most notorious piracy markets, presenting a detailed picture of an ever-evolving landscape. In its submission to the U.S. Trade Representative, the Hollywood group coins the term "hydra sites" to describe a new wave of one-stop-shop piracy websites that offer frictionless, browser-based access to pirated content, free of charge.
From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydrapirate1-600x519.jpg" alt="hydra pirate" width="300" height="260" class="alignright size-large wp-image-272720" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydrapirate1-600x519.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydrapirate1-300x260.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydrapirate1-150x130.jpg 150w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydrapirate1.jpg 624w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The Motion Picture Association (<a href="https://www.motionpictures.org/">MPA</a>) has been a key player in the anti-piracy fight for decades, a position that has only strengthened in recent years.
As the driving force behind the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, the MPA finds itself at the center of an international enforcement apparatus.
For example, MPA and ACE helped to shut down a popular ring of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/ace-shuts-down-giant-streameast-piracy-ring-but-the-original-survives-250903/">sports piracy sites</a> last month, which reportedly received over 1.4 billion annual visits. Another high-profile case includes the takedown of domains associated with the IPTV service MagisTV/Flujo TV, and yesterday, ACE <a href="https://www.alliance4creativity.com/news/thai-authorities-supported-by-ace-raid-and-shut-down-notorious-illegal-iptv-service/">announced</a> that it helped the Thai authorities to shut down IPTV service INWIPTV.
While these actions impacted the availability of these piracy sites and services, Hollywood’s piracy problem hasn’t disappeared.
<h2>MPA Flags Piracy Challenges</h2>
A few hours ago, MPA shared its latest submission in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) annual review of notorious piracy markets. The group mentions these and other achievements in its “tireless fight” against piracy, before outlining the key threats that remain. 
The movie industry group, which counts the major Hollywood studios, Amazon, and Netflix among its members, notes that its list is not exhaustive. Instead, it aims to provide an illustration of current challenges.
A notable change compared to previous years is the mention of so-called “hydra sites”. The hydra concept, derived from Greek mythology, was popularized in piracy circles in the late 2000s by The Pirate Bay. Today, the MPA uses it to describe a fast-growing piracy trend. 
<h2>Hydra Sites</h2>
According to the MPA, “hydra sites” are one-stop-shop piracy platforms offering free movies and TV series without any restrictions.
“These are a rapidly expanding category of one-stop piracy sites offering content somewhat comparable to IPTV services, but without the need for subscriptions or dedicated devices. These sites offer frictionless, browser-based access that requires no registration and does not include paywalls.” 
Examples of these hydra sites include HydraHD, Nunflix, Cineby, Rivestream, Watchug, Vidbox, Broflix, Flickystream, Mapple, Alienflix, and Novastream.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-2.jpg" alt="hydra" width="600" height="258" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272747" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-2.jpg 941w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-2-300x129.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-2-600x258.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/hydra-2-150x65.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
The group doesn’t elaborate on its use of the term ‘hydra’ but it’s likely these platforms use standard templates, access centralized pirate video libraries, and are easy to replace. 
In other words, these sites rely on Piracy-as-a-Service (PaaS) platforms, a term previously coined by the MPA. These are third-party services and tools that allow people to start their own pirate site with minimal effort. 
The MPA’s submission does indeed tie these categories together, noting that movie hydra sites often depend on a video library such as “Vidsrc,” while many sports streaming sites use “Streamed.su” to serve their content.
“Most hydra sites depend heavily on PaaS infrastructure, often embedding ‘Vidsrc’ for VOD and/or ‘Streamed’ for live (sports) content,” MPA’s submission reads. 
<h2>The Usual Suspects</h2>
Aside from hydra sites, the MPA lists dozens of other targets. These include linking, streaming, and download sites, as well as torrent indexes such as The Pirate Bay and 1337x. 
At this point, torrent sites are relatively small targets, as streaming portals are much more popular. The MPA notes that the Myflixerz/Sflix ring is one of the priority threats, with an estimated 622 million visits in August. 
Sflix was one of the brands targeted in the Fmovies crackdown in 2024, but the popular piracy brand hasn’t gone away. 
“These sites rely on their own PaaS infrastructure (formerly known as 2embed[.]to, which ACE took down in June 2023) and despite enforcement, they continue to thrive through alternative domains and backend hosting on platforms such as MegaCloud, VidCloud, and RapidCloud,” MPA writes. 
Other priority targets include Cuevana and MagisTV, which have been targeted repeatedly in enforcement actions. Despite these efforts, the brands remain popular with many millions of active users. 
<h2>Continued Pressure on Intermediaries</h2>
In addition to pirate sites and services, the MPA’s submission highlights third-party intermediaries, including hosting providers and domain name registries. These are not the source of any piracy activity but play a crucial role in keeping services afloat, the anti-piracy group argues.
For example, MPA writes that the .CC, .IO, .TV, .RU, SU, .SX, and .TO domain registries continue to provide their services to pirate sites despite repeated notification and outreach.
“A registry—directly or via its contractual relationship with its registrars—can withdraw or disable domain names used by websites engaged in massive copyright infringement,” MPA clarifies.
In the hosting category, DDos-Guard, Private Layer, Squitter, Veesp, and Virtual Systems are mentioned. The Belize company Crypto Servers is added as a newcomer this year, with MPA mentioning that it caters to sites that seek anonymity and takedown resistance.
<center><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cryptoservers.jpg" alt="cfypto servers" width="600" height="306" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-272746" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/cryptoservers.jpg 1193w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cryptoservers-300x153.jpg 300w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cryptoservers-600x306.jpg 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/cryptoservers-150x77.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></center>
As in previous years, the MPA also mentions Cloudflare. While the American company does not qualify as a foreign piracy market, the industry group repeatedly highlights that pirate sites use its services to conceal their location. 
Cloudflare previously <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/cloudflare-refutes-mpa-and-riaas-piracy-concerns-191018/">responded to this critique</a>, pointing out that it actively works with trusted flaggers, including the MPA, to share the hosting locations of alleged pirate sites. 
All in all, MPA’s submission paints a detailed picture of the video piracy landscape. The USTR will review these and other stakeholder comments in the coming months and is expected to release a new version of its “notorious markets” overview early next year.
—
A list of all sites and services highlighted and categorized in the <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/images/mpa-ustr-25.pdf">MPA’s 2025 notorious markets submission (pdf)</a> can be found below. For additional context, we highlight the new entries, while also indicating those from the 2023 report that have since been removed.
Linking and Streaming Websites
Priority sites
– Myflixerz / Sflix 
– Cuevana.biz/is 
– Hianime.to, hianime.nz, etc
Additional sites
– 1tamilmv (new) 
– Animeflv.net 
– Anime-Sama (new) 
– Cda.pl 
– Chomikuj.pl (new) 
– Cineby.app 
– Bs.to 
– Buffstreams.io 
<strike>– Diziwatch.net 
– Dramasq.com </strike> 
– Dytt8899.com, dytt8.net, dytt89.com, etc. 
– Gimy.ai 
– Goojara.to/levidia.ch/Suprnova.to 
– Hydrahd.sh (new) 
<strike>– Indoxxi Network </strike> 
– Kisskh.co, kisskh.ovh (new) 
– Librefutboltv.su 
– LiveTV.sx (new) 
– Netmirror (new) 
– Nunflix.org (new) 
– Redecanais / Redecanaistv / Futemax (new) 
– Rezka.ag 
– S.to 
– Soap2day.day (new) 
– Streamingcommunity 
– Vegamovies 
– Veronline[.]in 
– Xalaflix.gg / xalaflix.art 
<strike>– Soaper.tv 
– Solarmovie.to 
– Tamilblasters / Streamblasters 
– TV**.wiki (e.g., tv51.wiki) </strike>
Piracy-as-a-Service (PaaS)
– MegaCloud / VidCloud / RapidCloud (formerly 2embed.to) (new) 
<strike>– Rewall.in</strike> 
– Fire Video Player 
<strike>– HDVB </strike> 
– Njalla 
– Streamed.su (new) 
– Videasy[.]net (new) 
– Vidlink[.]pro (new) 
– Vidsrc[.]me (new iteration) 
– WHMCS Smarters 
Direct Download Cyberlockers and Streaming Video Hosting Services
Priority sites
– DoodStream 
– Telegram 
<strike>– Mixdrop.co</strike> 
– Streamtape.com 
– Voe.sx (new)
Additional sites
<strike>– HQQ/WaaW/Netu</strike> 
– Baidu Wangpan 
– Rapidgator 
– VK.com
Illegal IPTV Services
Priority services
– MagisTV / FlujoTV 
– Gogo IPTV
Additional services
– Apollo Group TV 
– Atlas Pro (new) 
<strike>– Crystal OTT</strike> 
– GenIPTV 
– BestBuyIPTV.biz 
– Spider Receiver 
<strike>– TheKing365tv.site</strike> 
– TVExpress
Piracy Devices and Apps
– EVPAD 
– LokLok, RookTV, LokTV, LokiOK 
<strike>– Movie Box </strike> 
– PikaShow 
<strike>– Shabakaty 
– SVI Cloud 
– TVMob</strike> 
– Unblock Tech (unblocktech.com & ub1818.com)
Peer-to-Peer Networks & BitTorrent Portals
– 1337x.to 
<strike>– DonTorrent.com </strike> 
– Rutracker.org 
– ThePirateBay.org 
– Yggtorrent 
– Yts.mx 
<strike>– Zamunda.net</strike>
Hosting Providers
– Crypto Servers Ltd (new) 
– Ddos-Guard.net 
– Private Layer, Swiss Global, and affiliated companies 
<strike>– Mnogobyte</strike> 
– Squitter, ABC Consultancy, Peenq, ESTOXY, BestDC, SERDECH 
– Veesp 
– Virtual Systems, V-Sys
Registries
– .IO Registry 
– .CC Registry 
– .RU Registry 
– .TO Registry 
– .TV Registry 
– .SU Registry (new) 
– .SX Registry (new)

From: <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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