NordVPN and ProtonVPN Ordered to Block LaLiga Stream Piracy in Spain

Post Views: 4

Spanish Court Orders NordVPN and ProtonVPN to Block Access to Pirate Sites

A Spanish court has issued a ruling requiring two popular virtual private network (VPN) providers, NordVPN and ProtonVPN, to block access to 16 websites that facilitate the unauthorized streaming of football matches.

Background of the Case

LaLiga, the Spanish professional football league, and its broadcasting partner, Telefónica, have been granted precautionary measures against the VPN providers. The organizations successfully argued that the VPNs fall under the EU Digital Services Regulation, which obliges them to assist in preventing the unauthorized transmission of protected content.

According to the court orders, the VPN systems are “highly effective and accessible” means of bypassing geographic restrictions and accessing content that is not available in certain regions. The orders also highlight that the defendants acknowledge and advertise their ability to evade such restrictions.

Reactions to the Ruling

LaLiga has characterized the ruling as a significant victory in its efforts to combat piracy, citing similar decisions in France. However, ProtonVPN has expressed concerns about the decision, stating that it was not formally notified of the proceedings and therefore had no opportunity to defend itself.

In response to the ruling, NordVPN has questioned the legitimacy of the decision, arguing that it was not involved in any Spanish judicial proceedings and had not received the relevant documents. The company’s spokesperson, Laura Tyrylyte, stated that the process of blocking domains is ineffective in combating piracy, as it does not address the root cause of the problem.

Tyrylyte suggested that hosting providers should be the primary target of anti-piracy efforts, as pirates can easily bypass domain blocks by using subdomains. She also argued that free VPN services, which are often harder to regulate, remain a significant loophole for pirates to exploit.

Implications of the Ruling

The ruling has significant implications for the future of internet regulation and the role of VPN providers in preventing piracy. As the use of VPNs becomes increasingly widespread, it is likely that we will see further efforts to hold these providers accountable for preventing the unauthorized transmission of protected content.