📰 New article from TorrentFreak
Broadcaster Wins Broad U.S. Blocking Injunction Covering Pirate Sites That Don’t Exist Yet
Imagine a court order that bans crimes you haven’t committed yet. That’s exactly what TelevisaUnivision just pulled off in a stunning Florida federal case. The broadcaster didn’t just win a standard injunction; they secured a “self-expanding” blocking order that targets pirate IPTV services—even those that don’t exist yet.
Here’s the kicker: the judge allowed TU’s lawyers to add new targets to the blacklist simply by filing a sworn declaration. No new hearings, no judicial review. This dynamic approach, common in Europe, is effectively new in the U.S., letting the broadcaster chase down fresh pirate brands like XuperTV and Roja Directa without further court intervention.
The order casts a massive net, hitting ISPs, ad networks, and payment processors like BBVA Bancomer. But the real action is with domain registrars and Cloudflare. U.S.-based services like GoDaddy and Namecheap suspended over 200 domains almost immediately, while foreign hosts largely ignored the ruling. Cloudflare, meanwhile, was forced to hand over origin IPs and account details under strict, tailored rules.
This isn’t just about stopping current pirates; it’s about creating a chilling effect on any future service that might infringe on TU’s rights. It’s a powerful precedent that shifts the balance of power heavily toward rightsholders, turning legal orders into living, breathing weapons that evolve as fast as piracy does.