TorrentFreak

TorrentFreak is a news outlet that focuses on the most recent developments in copyright, privacy, and file-sharing topics. Unlike other sites that compile news from various sources, we prioritize original and engaging stories. At TorrentFreak, we aim to be your go-to source for the latest updates in the peer-to-peer (p2p) community. Additionally, each year, we release a comprehensive review of VPN services.

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BitTorrent Pirate Gets 5 Years in Prison, €10,000 Fine, For Decade-Old Offenses

1 week ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

The most obvious downward piracy trends have arrived in response to rightsholders addressing market demands. But, when authorities feel something drastic needs to be done, legal crackdowns can also be the weapon of choice. The idea is that these actions will punish offenders while also sending a deterrent message to others who operate in the same business.
Google Receives Piracy Shield Orders to Block Pirate Sites in Public DNS

1 week ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

In countries where site-blocking has been established for years, relatively small but always expanding measures happen mostly unannounced. It’s often too late to complain when the public are the last to know. Enhanced blocking measures and tools, with an emphasis on speed and limited judicial oversight, already receive support under national law.
IPTV Piracy Lawsuit Targets 'Boss IPTV Cartel', CDN, Hosts, Set-Top Box Supplier * TorrentFreak

1 week ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

Incorporated in Georgia, YuppTV USA Inc. markets itself as one of the world’s largest internet-based TV and on-demand platforms for South Asian content. Most of the company’s subscribers are described as “non-resident individuals.”Filed at a federal court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, YuppTV’s copyright complaint begins by naming Canada-based Harpreet Singh Randhawa as the operator of one or more IPTV services, sold under multiple brand names.
'Immediate' Pirate IPTV Shutdowns? No Problem, Please Ask Us Yesterday * TorrentFreak

1 week ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

In 2023, sports rightsholders and their broadcasting partners had their collective patience tested to the limit. Coordinated industry-wide action late 2022 placed rising IPTV piracy rates under the spotlight, aiming to put the European Commission under pressure to take immediate action. Rightsholders wanted new legislation, to compel intermediaries to cooperate with faster takedowns, or even cooperate at all.
Piracy Giant Mangajikan's "Website Closed" After 185m Visits in May Alone * TorrentFreak

2 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

The extraordinary online popularity of Japanese manga comics shows no sign of retreat, with pirate site-based consumption at unprecedented levels fueled by billions of visits. Japanese publishers are pursuing pirate site operators all around the world but no matter where they’re physically located, the majority have some kind of infrastructure directly behind a reverse proxy at Cloudflare.
Takedown Compliance

2 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

In countries where protection is granted automatically, it’s possible for ordinary people to become copyright owners in a matter of minutes. For the lucky few with a sudden viral video on their hands, a general understanding of the ‘rules’ governing what can, can’t, or should be done next, could be of benefit. What those ‘rules’ cannot do is prevent 500, 1000, or 5,000 unauthorized copies appearing in a matter of minutes. The best on offer in that respect is a potential means to remove them.
ICANN's DNS Blocking Report Presents Three Key Recommendations * TorrentFreak

2 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

In 2006 alone, Russia-based AllOfMP3 reportedly banked $30 million from sales of an unauthorized music product for which the major labels received no payment. The unlikely stage for the industry’s response to global sales of cheap, unlicensed DRM-free music, was Denmark. Under pressure from industry group IFPI, ISP Tele2 blocked AllofMP3’s domain, an event that will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Google Wins Copyright Claim Dismissal in Publishers' Textbook Piracy Lawsuit * TorrentFreak

2 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

In common with many services provided by Google, its search engine is wide open and free of charge at the point of delivery. The quid pro quo is the user’s consumption of Google ads, placed by millions of advertisers for all kinds of products. Given the scale, it’s no surprise that some offer products of dubious origin. The question is who can be held liable beyond the seller, and under what specific circumstances.
Napster.com Faced ISP Piracy Blockade For "Massive Copyright Violations" * TorrentFreak

3 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

The original Napster service was launched by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker on June 1, 1999. Had it not been sued into oblivion by the record labels, it would’ve celebrated its 26th anniversary last Sunday. In reality, Napster didn’t live for very long at all. The service was shut down by court order in July 2001 and in this month 23 years ago, Napster Inc. filed for bankruptcy. Napster Brand Lives On, LegallyFor more than two decades, the Napster brand has lived on.
Operator of South Korea's Largest Pirate Site Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison * TorrentFreak

3 weeks ago | torrentfreak.com | Andy Maxwell

As online piracy continued to cause headaches for South Korea, in 2023 key media entities formed the Video Copyright Protection Council. The VCPC coalition adopted a unified “stronger together” strategy for operational efficiencies and greater governmental leverage, swiftly putting its first target on notice with a criminal complaint and a $3.7 billion damages claim.