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Spain's Court Orders VPNs to Block Streaming Pirates
17 Feb
Summary
- LaLiga and Telefónica secured a court order against VPN providers.
- VPN services must block access within Spain to 16 piracy websites.
- The league also offers rewards for reporting illegal broadcasts.
LaLiga, in conjunction with broadcasting partner Telefónica, has secured a significant court order targeting online piracy. The order mandates that VPN providers NordVPN and Proton VPN immediately block access within Spain to 16 websites accused of illegally streaming LaLiga matches.
The court's ruling emphasizes the role of technological intermediaries, stating that VPN services are subject to European regulations. This means they are now required to prevent infringements occurring through their infrastructure. This legal precedent is considered non-appealable.
While VPNs are primarily used for privacy, their ability to bypass regional restrictions has also made them a tool for accessing pirated content. The league also recently launched a reward program, offering 50 euros for verified reports of businesses illegally broadcasting matches.
