Author: markmulready

Is the tide turning against online pirates?

Pirates move at internet speed. Unhindered by rules and regulations they continually adapt; leaving the content owners, media industry and legal institutions to play catchup. My earlier blog highlighted 3 initiatives in the fight against piracy , and in the last month or so there are more examples of how the tide might be starting to turn against the pirates.

European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling
Recently, the ECJ ruled on a long running case between BREIN (the Dutch anti-piracy group) and Filmspeler.nl, that selling streaming devices preloaded with pirate streaming links and add-ons is illegal.

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Can site blocking help fight online piracy?

With the proliferation of different ways to access pirated content, does site blocking have any impact? That was a question I received during a recent piracy panel discussion. Let’s have a look to see if it does.

What is it?

Put simply, site blocking is a technical means by which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can disable consumer access to target sites. This can be by using DNS based -, Url- or IP blocking capabilities.

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Collaboration is critical for a successful raid against online pirates

Gone are the days where online piracy was an individual sharing illegal content with a few select “friends”. Today, online piracy is a highly sophisticated operation that often spans different countries and jurisdictions. To be effective in fighting this continually growing threat requires a team of experts.

Pre-match build up
OTT piracy remains the biggest threat facing pay-media operators and content rights holders. Illegal supply of premium content, especially live events such as soccer is driving this increase.

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Consumer piracy survey insights for pay-media operators

The Irdeto global consumer piracy survey is the largest ever conducted. With over 25,000 adults across 30 countries participating, it provides unique insight into the dynamics of online piracy. Comparing the youngest age group (18-24) and the oldest group (over 55) we can see the differences but also some surprising similarities.

There’s lots that we can pull from the extensive data, but let’s just focus on a couple of angles.

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Signs you’re being out-marketed by the online pirates

I’m sure Hubspot’s Brian Halligan was addressing legal companies when he said: “The only way to be successful in growing your business and revenue streams is to match how you market your products with the way in which the prospective clients are learning about and shopping for the products.” Yet, online pirates have definitely taken his message to heart. Have you?
Connecting with your consumers
It’s clear just looking around, we’re addicted to being online. Just as technology has made the world more connected, it’s also increased the number of places consumers are hit with marketing messages.

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Are online pirates your invisible competition?

We all know the pay-media world is changing. Old business models are under pressure. Digital viewing habits are relegating TV to the 2nd screen. Industry experts all talk about who will triumph in this flux. One ‘brand’ which you rarely see as a serious contender: Online Pirates. But why not?

The usual suspects
Never before have consumers had so much affordable content so easily accessible. The technology advancements opened the door for OTT providers and content owners to go direct to consumers.

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Fighting online piracy requires collaboration

Online piracy is a highly sophisticated operation that often spans different countries and jurisdictions. Trying to tackle this on your own will have limited effect. To have an impact means working together.

Hare and the tortoise
Online piracy is one of the biggest threats facing pay-media providers and content owners. It’s a growing pandemic problem and not easy to solve. Pirates are continually adapting. Unhindered by rules and regulations they move at internet speed.

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The anti-piracy enforcement toolbox

Would you use a screwdriver to hammer a nail into a wall? Not very effective. It’s the wrong tool for the job. The same is true in the world of anti-piracy. You need the right tools and services for the different threats.

Understanding what you need
Online pirates are continually adapting. Unhindered by rules and regulations pirates move at internet speed. Too effectively fight online piracy means keeping up to date with their latest activities.

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Learning lessons from the pay-media industry

What can the automotive industry learn from pay-media? They’re so different. For one personal safety is paramount and for the other it’s all about entertaining consumers. Worlds apart? Not at all when it comes to cybercrime. For cybercrime these differences don’t matter.

Starting out
Just as the internet plays a pivotal role in the media industry, its growing in importance for automotive.

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