After years of decline, illegal downloading and streaming of videos, series, films, and music are on the rise again. This trend poses a significant threat to intellectual property rights, the publishing industry, the streaming industry, the music industry, and the economy as a whole. In the past, consumers shifted from illegal streaming sites to legitimate streaming services due to ease and affordability. However, the illegal streaming industry has become more sophisticated and enticing for consumers [aaecf936].
According to a report by Panda Security, cyber piracy is increasing, with a surge in illegal downloads and the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, streaming platforms, and music piracy websites. Visits to music piracy websites have increased by 13% since 2022, reaching over 17 billion visits last year. The high prices of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music are pushing people back towards illegal downloads. Roughly 40% of the music piracy tracked is from 'YouTube-to-MP3' sites, which rip audio from YouTube videos. Google, which owns YouTube, directs users to these piracy sites, generating billions of visits to YouTube. YouTube claims to take action against these services when notified, but multiple links to such sites appear on the first page of Google search results for 'YouTube to MP3' [11d5a7a2] [8078461a].
The impact of cyber piracy extends beyond the entertainment industry. The publishing sector is heavily affected, with 28% of global piracy traffic attributed to e-books, print counterparts, and music. Approximately 4 million books are illicitly downloaded annually, resulting in a $300 million loss for publishers and authors. The music industry also suffers significant losses due to piracy, with artists and record labels losing out on revenue from illegal downloads and streams [def04aa4].
The top 5 countries contributing to piracy site visits are the United States, India, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom. These countries serve as major hubs for piracy activities, with a significant number of users accessing illegal content [def04aa4].
Illicit streaming sites dominate TV and music piracy traffic, constituting a large portion of the total traffic. In 2022, piracy increased by 39% for films, 9% for TV shows, and 13% for music globally. Some illegitimate streaming and music piracy operations are making billions of dollars annually through ads and subscriptions. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is actively fighting against piracy, with its special anti-piracy unit led by a Marine Corps and Interpol veteran. The MPA estimates that the American economy loses $30 billion in annual revenue and around 250,000 jobs to illegal streaming. Hollywood has also been cutting jobs on its own [aaecf936] [11d5a7a2].
The consequences of cyber piracy are not limited to financial losses. It also undermines the efforts of artists, authors, and creators who invest time, resources, and creativity in their work. The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content not only deprives them of their rightful earnings but also discourages future innovation and creativity [def04aa4].
To combat cyber piracy, industry stakeholders, governments, and law enforcement agencies need to collaborate and implement effective measures. This includes stricter enforcement of intellectual property laws, increased awareness among users about the consequences of piracy, and the development of secure and affordable legal alternatives for accessing digital content [def04aa4].
The resurgence of video and music piracy is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. Failure to address this problem could have far-reaching implications for the publishing industry, the streaming industry, the music industry, the economy, and the creative economy as a whole [def04aa4] [8078461a] [aaecf936] [11d5a7a2].
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is urging Congress to pass legislation for a site-blocking regime in the United States to combat online piracy. The MPA has been promoting and guiding similar regimes in other countries for over 12 years. The MPA argues that site-blocking measures are necessary to protect content creators and the economy from the negative effects of piracy. The MPA plans to propose judicial site-blocking legislation that would require local ISPs to prevent consumer access to pirate sites. The MPA claims that pirate site owners engage in criminal activities such as child pornography, prostitution, drug trafficking, and malware distribution. The MPA also states that site-blocking has been effective in other countries, reducing traffic on piracy sites and increasing visits to legal sites. The MPA specifically mentions FMovies as a major target for site-blocking in the United States. The MPA believes that site-blocking would prevent viewers from finding pirated versions of films through basic internet searches and encourage them to watch movies in theaters. The MPA acknowledges the defeat of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2012 but argues that site-blocking would not 'break the internet' and that times have changed since then. The MPA suggests that Google could potentially cooperate with site-blocking efforts by removing blocked sites from its search results. The MPA believes that site-blocking legislation would protect content creators, support the economy, and combat criminal activities associated with piracy [195d4cc8].
The Japanese anti-piracy group CODA has renewed its partnership with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) for another two years to continue efforts against anime and manga piracy. Since signing the deal in 2014, CODA has achieved great results, including implementing anti-piracy measures in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, resulting in tens of thousands of crackdowns. The MPA's cooperation is crucial, given Disney's sales are 16 times larger than major CODA members combined. The anime market heavily relies on overseas income, with 49.8% of all income generated by the Japanese anime industry coming from overseas. The fight against copyright infringement remains tense, with CODA highlighting the ease of evading detection. Two of the world's biggest manga piracy sites have recently gone offline, causing hits to illegal websites. Manga piracy is a significant issue, with America being the world's worst offender despite accounting for only 4% of the world's population [991ee501].
Filipino cinema's piracy culture is explored through the lens of accessibility and the right to watch films. The article discusses the case of the independent film 'John Denver Trending' being pirated and the director's surprising response. It highlights the prevalence of piracy in the Philippines, with the country being the highest consumer of pirated content in the region. The article also touches on the historical roots of piracy in the Philippines and the lack of government regulation and enforcement. It suggests alternative distribution methods and the need for support and appreciation for the local film industry. The article concludes by acknowledging the complex motivations behind piracy and the need to address the problem at its source [db931843].