A group of major streaming companies including Netflix, Disney and Crunchy roll have teamed up to file a lawsuit against a major piracy platform. Their goal is to disrupt piracy on a large scale, but the situation is already getting complicated as the pirates fight back.
TorrentFreak reports the latest update in the global piracy crackdown, which targets VidSrc domains. This is the first follow-up attack after 248 domains were targeted in September, including major anime websites such as AnimesHeaven, AnimeKai and Anoboy. It has been reported that the plaintiffs in this case include Universal City Studios Productions LLLP, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Netflix US, LLC, Disney Enterprises Inc., Apple Video Programming LLC, Crunchyroll, LLC, as well as Korean companies SBS Co. Ltd., CJ ENM Co. Ltd and SLL Joongang Co. Ltd.
Major Entertainment Companies Fight Streaming Piracy by Targeting VidSrc
It has been reported that VidSrc has already taken its own steps to try to counter the impending legal action. An evasive move has led the group to turn to Russian domains, making them much harder to target, at least as far as Indian courts, where the lawsuit is being filed, are concerned.
VidSrc’s response was at the heart of the lawsuit in the first place, with the complex workings of domains being a particular problem for rights holders. Even when a piracy operation appears to be stopped, many replacements often appear, and VidSrc’s move to Russian domains proves that the game of whack-a-mole is likely to continue. It becomes difficult to enforce these legal victories across borders. So even if the New Delhi court favors entertainment companies, it will be difficult to force a Russian domain registrar to act.
The new injunction provides considerable room to, ideally, put an end to hydra-like domain hopping. Domains that even appear to be associated with previously blocked sites are now being targeted, based on factors such as site name, brand, and operator identity.
The initial order saw 248 domains blocked by local Internet service providers (ISPs) in India, but also forced domain registrars around the world to suspend sites within 72 hours. Registrars were also ordered to gather and transmit personal information about the people who registered the domains, including credit card information, cell phone numbers, and more.
Crunchyroll, Netflix, Disney and other major Hollywood studios filing suit will likely have a significant impact on casual anime piracy. Those browsing free anime streaming sites will likely find their options limited or cut off altogether, especially if they live in India. As pirate streaming sites are forced to move to different domains, they also risk losing traffic as fans struggle to keep up.
Fortunately, legal anime streaming has become more accessible in recent years, with Crunchyroll remaining the leading anime-focused streamer. Netflix, Disney and other big names have been expanding their own anime libraries and capitalizing on the medium’s global popularity – likely at least one of the main reasons they’re joining the fight against some of the world’s most notorious anime pirate sites. However, despite legal availability improving in recent years, many anime fans still turn to pirate sites, especially when looking for older, niche content that is not readily available through legal means.