torrentfreak

US music and movie industry companies helped to get pirate sites blocked in countries all around the globe. On their home turf, however, pirate sites remain freely accessible. After the SOPA protests, the blocking issue became a no-go issue in the US. Blocking efforts continued elsewhere...

With the support of the Japanese government, content creators in Japan are attempting to crack down on the unauthorized reproduction and sharing of copyrighted content. Due to their effect on local markets, those who offer copyrighted manga and anime works appear to be a priority. The latest...

Watching most top-tier soccer or football is an expensive option in most regions. Billions are paid out by broadcasters for the rights to matches and this cost has to be passed down to fans. While millions dig deep to fund what has become a pricey sport to follow, others seek a free fix, often...

A year ago “Article 13” was only known to a select audience with a particular interest in copyright issues. Today, EU’s copyright reform proposals and the potential ‘Internet filters’ have gone mainstream. Last September the European Parliament backed the controversial Article 13 plans. This...

In July 2015, Portugal’s Ministry of Culture announced the signing of a an anti-piracy memorandum between the General Inspection of Cultural Activities (IGAC), the Portuguese Association of Telecommunication Operators (APRITEL), various rightsholder groups, the body responsible for administering...

Photo: Warner Bros. This week we have six newcomers in our chart. A Star is Born is the most downloaded movie. The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only. All the movies in the list are...

IPFS, short for InterPlanetary File System, has been around for a few years now. While the name sounds alien to most people, it has a growing userbase among the tech-savvy. In short, IPFS is a decentralized network where users make files available among each other. If a website uses IPFS, it...

It’s certainly not difficult to see why Linkomanija is a major irritant to copyright holders in Lithuania and further afield. For well over a decade the site has been a major force involved in the sharing of unlicensed content. Even today, despite years of conflict and attacks against the site...

Put on your protective irony suits folks, you’re definitely going to need them. Facepalming is also allowed, especially if accompanied by a slow head-shake. With the downfall of Android-based apps like TerrariumTV, pirates everywhere are looking for the next big thing. Lots of content in a...

When it comes to civil anti-piracy enforcement, BREIN is without a doubt one of the best-known players in the industry. The group, which receives support from Hollywood and other content industries, has shuttered hundreds of smaller sites in recent history and even took on the likes of Mininova...

Every day millions of people post photos online, without approval from the rightsholder. This is particularly prevalent on social media platforms such as Facebook. Many photographers don’t have the time or resources to go after these types of infringements, but some are clearly drawing a line...

Since the turn of the decade, Austria has been grappling with the controversial issue of pirate site blocking. While rights holders have long-insisted that blocking is an appropriate and proportionate response to large-scale infringement, local Internet service providers have remained...

In common with dozens of countries around the world, Singapore is struggling to contain the spread of piracy-configured set-top boxes. Branded by industry as ‘ISDs’ (Illicit Streaming Devices), these products enable consumers to access a wide range of content – usually movies and TV shows –...

As part of Brazil’s Ministry of Justice, the Federal Police of Brazil (Polícia Federal) is an enforcement agency tasked with tackling a range of crimes. In addition to drug trafficking and terrorism, the unit is responsible for disrupting organized crime, white-collar crime, and money...

Five years ago, Popcorn Time was widely embraced by pirates, thanks to its ability to stream torrent files through a user-friendly interface. This rapid rise raised concern among many movie industry companies, who worked hard to contain the threat by going after several forks and their...

Video-hosting platforms that allow users to upload content are currently protected by so-called ‘safe harbor’ exceptions. They are generally not responsible for infringing content when they respond appropriately to complaints from copyright holders. In a case against US-based video platform...

Over the years we’ve written numerous times about questionable copyright claims on YouTube. This problem is far from new but more and more stories are emerging every week. Over the past days, a claim on a Star Wars fan film has caught a lot of attention. The video in question was created by...

After years of discussions and negotiations, the EU’s copyright reform proposals are nearing the finish line. In recent months concerns have been voiced about the plans from various sides. Article 13, in particular, proved to be controversial. Among the public, the main concern is that this...

While legal IPTV platforms exist online, the acronym is also closely associated with services providing access to unlicensed live TV feeds. These services can be easily accessed via a PC, tablet, or mobile phone, but many are accessed via Android-type set-top boxes. Another option is to use the...

Within a week, the European Parliament and Council hope to finalize the final text of Article 13, which is part of the EU’s copyright reform plans. After Parliament’s vote last September, the proposal has been tweaked in an attempt to gain broader support. However, critics remain skeptical...