AAPA urges EC live piracy action
The article reports that the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) has submitted recommendations to the European Commission’s copyright reform process, urging the EU to adopt stronger legislation to combat the growing problem of live online piracy. AAPA argues that existing voluntary measures have failed to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated piracy networks, particularly those distributing live sports and television content.
AAPA describes live piracy as more than a copyright issue, warning that many illegal streaming operations rely on offshore, non-compliant hosting providers that operate outside the reach of European enforcement while continuing to use European internet infrastructure. According to the alliance, these operators are frequently linked to broader cybercrime risks, exposing consumers to malware, fraud and other online threats. AAPA therefore frames live piracy as an issue affecting Europe’s digital security, consumer safety and digital sovereignty, in addition to the creative economy.
To address these challenges, AAPA proposes a clear legal obligation for legitimate hosting providers to remove pirated live content immediately upon notification and to prevent the same content from being re-uploaded. The alliance argues that the speed of live sports piracy makes conventional notice-and-takedown procedures ineffective, requiring near real-time intervention to protect rights holders.
A second recommendation calls for a regulatory framework targeting persistent offshore hosting providers that repeatedly facilitate piracy. AAPA wants the European Commission to identify such providers and prevent them from continuing to benefit from European internet infrastructure if they consistently fail to cooperate with enforcement efforts. The objective is to reduce the ability of criminal piracy services to operate from jurisdictions that provide little practical oversight.
The alliance also urges the creation of a harmonized EU-wide framework for dynamic live blocking, allowing rights holders across Member States to obtain rapid, continuously updated blocking orders against illegal streams during live events. AAPA argues that a consistent European approach would replace the current patchwork of national systems and provide more effective protection for broadcasters, sports organizations and other content owners.
The article concludes that AAPA views these proposals as practical and proportionate measures reflecting how live piracy operates today. The organization says stronger legislation would help protect Europe’s creative industries and sports sector while improving the resilience and integrity of the EU’s digital ecosystem. It also expresses its willingness to work with the European Commission and other stakeholders to develop an effective legislative framework capable of addressing the scale and urgency of live piracy.
