making it easier to take enforcement action. AI-powered monitoring has also become a game-changer, scanning the Internet in real time to detect and take down pirated streams or illegal downloads before they gain traction. AI is a workhorse when it comes to processing huge amounts of telemetry to detect suspicious access patterns. This enables detection and blocking of abusers in very short timespans. The combination of these security layers, along with stronger cooperation between content providers and law enforcement is making it harder for piracy networks to operate unchecked,” he notes.
“ FACT and our partners deploy a range of techniques to combat illegal consumption,” advises Sharp.“ Takedown notices play a crucial role in informing illegal streaming providers of their violations and requiring them to take down the illegal streaming sites. These notices also serve as legal evidence, proving that offenders were given prior warnings before any prosecution. In some cases, these notices are also sent to customers of illegal services, to discourage them from carrying on using them. Blocking orders are another key enforcement strategy. These are civil court orders compelling Internet Service Providers to block access to illegal sites and streaming servers. Blocking orders require continuous monitoring due to the rapid re-emergence of blocked sites under new domains.”
“ As well as takedowns and blocking measures, investigation and disruption remain vital in the fight against piracy. As an investigative agency, FACT, alongside our partners, conducts raids, shuts down illegal operations, and prosecutes major distributors of pirated content. At the same time, the onus is on FACT together with rights holders to constantly monitor emerging piracy techniques and adapt our strategies accordingly,” he accepts. COMPREHENSIVE.“ The best advice from any reputable anti-piracy vendor is to ensure you employ a comprehensive approach, throughout the distribution and post-distribution process,” says Friend MTS’ s Forman.“ This includes in-flight protection( usually DRM, as mentioned), and anti-piracy measures at the distribution edge( server-side and distribution watermarking) and as content is accessed by the viewer( client-composited watermarking and domain / delivery server blocking).”
“ In terms of effectiveness, identification starts with location and confirmation of content. A comprehensive monitoring service is able to search for and locate illegal content across multiple geographies, across multiple platforms, and in difficult to access locations; this is where partnering with a well-established, experienced organisation is critical. A top-level provider knows where
12 EUROMEDIA to look: open web, social media and behind paywalled IPTV services; they’ ll also have detailed knowledge of how pirates attempt to evade detection and are able to bypass these measures,” he advises.
“ Halting illegal consumption can be the tricky part, but there are some very effective disruption tools available. Enforcement techniques such as sending takedown notices, DMCA notifications, etcetera, are a crucial first step, especially when gathering evidence that in cases that will progress towards prosecution; however, often these on their own don’ t stop the pirates. A next step is approaching the infrastructure providers, and at FMTS we have extensive experience of successfully working with compliant hosting providers, helping them understand and address piracy on their platforms.” ACCESS.“ However, not all hosting providers are compliant, and we have to look to other methods,” he admits.“ Subscriber ID watermarking is a great way of halting pirates’ access to content. Once located, pirated instances of content that carry a subscriber watermark allow rights-holders and their media partners to immediately identify the compromised account, and revoke access to it, cutting off the pirates’ material at source, instantly.”
“ Probably the most effective disruption tool is blocking. This can be applied in various approaches, typically involving varying degrees of blocking of domain access, or delivery server access. Essentially, blocking works by compiling lists of infringing domains and / or the infrastructure that supports them, and providing these to ISPs who are required by regulation or legislation in a given geography to block access to these services. There are many nuances and techniques specific to blocking that make it a highly effective disruption tool, and it’ s already in use around the world by rights holders, broadcasters and service providers for all types of content,” he notes.
Similarly, Irdeto’ s Mulready says the most successful method for confronting illegal consumption consists of implementing multiple protective layers.“ Through forensic watermarking technology, for example. AIbased piracy detection systems continuously scan web services and social media platforms along with IPTV networks to quickly locate unlawful streaming activities and execute fast removal actions,” he advises. ENFORCEMENT.“ Collaboration between IP blocking efforts and ISPs prevents access to pirate sites but legal enforcement methods such as DMCA takedown notices and judicial actions increase the deterrence against piracy. Rights-holders who integrate automated systems with AI-powered insights and strict enforcement actions can achieve substantial reductions in piracy’ s business impacts. The investigation and enforcement( civil and / or criminal) of large-scale international pirate networks also have a significant impact on illegal consumption.”
“ Stopping piracy requires more than just securing the content, it requires securing the entire chain of distribution,” suggests MediaKind’ s O’ Donovan.“ DRM remains the first line of defence, but it’ s no longer enough on its own. One of the most effective strategies is token-based authentication, which ensures that access to a stream is continuously verified. This includes checking concurrency limits, geographical restrictions, and subscription validity at multiple stages, not just at login. When a stolen token is detected being used on multiple devices simultaneously, the system can automatically block those attempts, preventing large-scale theft,” he advises.
“ Digital watermarking has also become an essential tool in identifying sources of piracy. By embedding unique, traceable identifiers in the content, rights-holders can pinpoint where a breach has occurred and take action against those responsible. Additionally, upgrading encryption standards— moving from outdated 42-bit encryption to 256-bit keys— adds another layer of protection, making it significantly harder for content thieves to succeed,” he says. FRAMEWORK.“ A comprehensive approach is key to simplifying efforts to close security gaps while enabling a solid return on investment,” asserts NAGRA’ s Pearson.“ A strong framework covers everything from multi-DRM, forensic watermarking, device authentication, anti-piracy technologies and services, anti-credential sharing, fraud detection, app protection and CDN security. Beyond these valuable tools, without reliable information from across your sports, linear or on-demand service, you’ re always fighting blind.”
“ This is why AI is playing a strong and more prominent role in piracy mitigation. AI-powered monitoring helps detect illicit streams in real time by scanning vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and flagging suspicious activity faster than manual efforts. When AI-powered anti-piracy intelligence is paired with investigation services, IP blocking and monitoring, cybersecurity solutions and swift legal action, these tools form an effective defence against piracy.”
“ This strategy monitors and secures realtime content at each point along the chain— from when it enters the camera through each distribution channel— so that rights holders can gain robust and unprecedented intelligence into the pirate ecosystem to deliver actionable business insights that drive down piracy with unique technology integrations,” he advises.
“ There is no magic anti-piracy wand and the most effective approach involves a combination