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US Seizes EU's Top Piracy Websites
30 Jan
Summary
- US seized three major European piracy domains.
- Sites offered millions of infringed works via torrents.
- Bulgarian authorities assisted US in the crackdown.
Internet domains for three prominent European piracy sites have been seized by the United States Department of Justice. Zamunda.net, ArenaBG.com, and Zelka.org, known for distributing pirated movies, TV shows, and video games, are now inaccessible. These sites collectively attracted tens of millions of visits annually, offering countless infringed works for download.
Operating from Bulgaria, the domains were registered in the US, enabling federal officials to take action against criminal copyright infringement. The operation was conducted with significant assistance from Bulgarian authorities, who executed searches at 30 addresses nationwide. This collaborative effort led to the seizure of electronic equipment and evidence.
This action, which began with a request for US assistance in 2020, targeted the core infrastructure of these piracy hubs. While Zamunda.se has been observed to remain online, the seizure represents a significant blow to intellectual property theft in the EU.
