All articles tagged with #piracy
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that ISPs aren’t liable for user piracy simply for providing general connectivity; liability requires intent to facilitate infringement or a service tailored to it, aligning with Betamax and Grokster. The decision preserves DMCA safe harbors, avoids turning networks into piracy enforcers, and affects how ISPs handle infringement notices and repeat-offender policies.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Internet service providers cannot be held liable for their customers’ copyright infringement unless they induce infringement or tailor the service to enable it, reversing a Fourth Circuit decision against Cox Communications and limiting DMCA liability by treating providers as not being copyright police. The decision means ISPs aren’t required to terminate subscribers en masse for alleged infringement. Sony’s Betamax-era precedent is cited as context, and Justice Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion warning the ruling narrows other forms of secondary liability while agreeing Cox isn’t liable.
An unencrypted pre-release Steam build of Death Stranding 2 leaked online ahead of its March 19, 2026 release, with a ~113GB download that includes the full experience but omits some elements (e.g., Russian voiceovers) and may lack online features. The leak highlights piracy risks tied to a $70 PC port, while the PC version adds DLSS/FSR/XeSS, frame generation, unlocked framerates, and a new Go Wild mode.
Rogue streaming devices like SuperBox and vSeeBox are surging in popularity as viewers push back against rising pay-TV and streaming costs, spawning a sprawling reseller economy that promises thousands of channels and on-demand content—often via pirated sources—while drawing lawsuits and security concerns; many users mix these boxes with legitimate services, signaling a tense, evolving landscape for TV consumption.
Cyberpunk 2077's R.E.A.L VR mod creator Luke Ross says pirates are punishing him after CD Projekt Red's DMCA takedown, with the paywalled mod seeing widespread illegal sharing. He argues making a Cyberpunk 2077-specific version would be technically difficult due to support for 40+ engines, and notes that CDPR's fan guidelines allow donations but forbid paywalls. The NDA Ross received was tied to the Patreon setup rather than the mod itself, but piracy spreading the mod online underscores tensions between modders and big studios.
An activist group called Anna’s Archive claims to have scraped 86 million music files from Spotify, which they plan to release online, raising concerns about copyright infringement and the use of pirated music for AI training. Spotify confirmed the breach but stated it did not compromise their entire catalog and has taken measures to prevent further unauthorized access. The incident highlights ongoing debates over copyright laws and AI training data, with governments and industry stakeholders seeking balanced policies.
A hacktivist group associated with Anna's Archive has scraped approximately 86 million music files from Spotify, claiming to create a preservation archive to protect musical heritage, though it covers only about a third of Spotify's total catalog and raises concerns about legality and copyright infringement.
Spotify reports that 'anti-copyright extremists' scraped its music metadata and audio files, releasing a large archive online. The incident involves unauthorized access using illicit tactics, raising concerns about the potential impact on licensing and AI training datasets, though it does not pose a direct security threat to users.
The US Supreme Court is considering whether Cox Communications can be held liable for enabling customer piracy, with the case potentially resulting in a $1.5 billion verdict against Cox. The case revolves around whether ISPs can be responsible for user copyright infringement and how much they must do to prevent it, raising broader questions about internet liability and user rights.
A European Union naval force successfully rescued the Maltese-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite from Somali pirates, with the crew safe and no injuries reported. The operation involved a show of force that caused the pirates to flee, and ongoing efforts are underway to intercept the pirates' mother ship and dhow. Despite a decline in piracy incidents since 2011, recent attacks indicate the threat persists in the region.
Pirates boarded a Malta-flagged tanker off Somalia, but the crew took refuge in a safe room and remains in control of the vessel, amid a recent surge in piracy incidents in the region that has raised concerns for global shipping routes. EU naval forces are responding to the incident, which marks a significant escalation since 2024.
Nintendo won a lawsuit against streamer Jesse Keighin for livestreaming and sharing pirated Nintendo Switch games before their official release, resulting in a $17,500 damages award and an injunction, highlighting ongoing issues with game piracy and unauthorized streaming.
Nintendo won a lawsuit against a streamer who repeatedly streamed pirated Switch games, mocked the company, and used multiple accounts to evade bans. The court ordered the streamer to pay $17,500 in damages for his actions.
Nintendo won a lawsuit against streamer Jesse Keighin for streaming unreleased games and piracy, ordering him to pay $17,500, while rejecting some of Nintendo's broader injunction requests. The case highlights Nintendo's ongoing efforts to combat piracy and protect its intellectual property.
Nintendo won a lawsuit against streamer Jesse Keighin, who was ordered to pay $17,500 for streaming pirated games and sharing emulator links, after he claimed to 'run the streets' in response to accusations of piracy, which Nintendo argued caused significant financial losses.