![\"ipfs](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ipfs-lo.jpg\")
Over the past two decades, online piracy has proven to be a massive headache for the entertainment industries.<\/p>\nOver the past two decades, online piracy has proven to be a massive headache for the entertainment industries.<\/p>\n
Governments around the world have recognized this challenge and, where possible, lend a helping hand to identify and address the threats.<\/p>\n
The European Commission, for example, compiles a biennial \u2018Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List\u2019, following the example set by the United States. Like its U.S. equivalent, the EU watchlist relies on input from copyright holders<\/a>, which nominate problematic sites and services for inclusion.<\/p>\n This week the Commission released its latest version of the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. The report provides a detailed overview of the piracy landscape including statistics from many studies that were previously published. In addition, it highlights what are seen as the most serious threats today.<\/p>\n Compared to the previous edition, there appears to be a stronger focus on game piracy. Several new additions are gaming-related, including the elusive repacker FitGirl<\/em> and several NSW2U<\/em> domain names. Both have been blocked by ISPs in several EU countries. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Other newcomers are the streaming repository Doodstream<\/em>, sports streaming site Pirlo TV<\/em>, hosting provider Virtual Systems<\/em>, IPTV service GenIPTV<\/em> and the pirate video library Vidsrc<\/em>.<\/p>\n Another new target is Njalla<\/a>, the privacy-focused domain registration intermediary founded<\/a> by Pirate Bay co-founder Peter Sunde. The service is operated by Saint Kitts and Nevis-based 1337 Services.<\/p>\n According to the EU report, Njalla appears to do more than simply registering domains for its customers. Allegedly, it allows people to launch a complete pirate site using the service. <\/p>\n \u201cThis off-the-shelf piracy facilitation service makes it easy for would-be pirates to create and monetise a fully functioning pirate service,\u201d the EU report reads. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n This description does not fit Njalla as we know it. However, it can be explained. Apparently, the the EU Commission appears to apply the general description of \u201cPiracy as a Service\u201d (PaaS) providers to Njalla. While MPA previously reported Njalla as a PaaS service (to the USTR), applying the full description seems out of place here.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In its submission, MPA argued that PaaS services, taken together, make it easy for aspiring pirates to launch their own services. However, Njalla itself does not allow \u201cpirates to create and monetise a fully functioning pirate service\u201d as the EU Commission suggests. That\u2019s a concerning error, to say the least.<\/p>\n The PaaS term was originally coined years ago. We first noticed it in a MPA report in 2021<\/a>, where the same \u201coff the shelf\u201d terminology was used.<\/p>\n The final newcomer to stand out is the InterPlanetary File System, more broadly known as IPFS<\/a>. This is a decentralized network where users make files available to each other. The system makes websites censorship resistant and not vulnerable to regular hosting outages.<\/p>\n These advantages allow archivists, content creators, researchers, and many others to reliably distribute large volumes of data over the Internet. Wikipedia has used it\u2019s for example, and Lockheed Martin helped to launch an IPFS node into space.<\/p>\n However, the same censorship-resistant features also appeal to pirate sites<\/a>, which is why the EU has now included it on its watch list. The same applies to the Interplanetary Distributed Literature Catalog (IPDL), which maintains links to torrent and IPFS archives.<\/p>\n \u201cSuper Pirate and the major pirate networks, including Library Genesis (LibGen), Z-Library, Anna\u2019s Archive are reported to use public gateways to host and distribute copyrighted materials on IPFS,\u201d the report reads.<\/p>\n In addition to roughly a dozen fresh entries, the EU watchlist includes many familiar websites. Torrent sites such as The Pirate Bay, 1337x, and Rutracker make an appearance, similar to previous years. <\/p>\n Fmovies is still mentioned too, despite its shutdown<\/a> last year. Instead of the original site, the EU Watch list now includes two copycat Fmovies sites; fmoviesto.site and f-moviesz.to. <\/p>\n The music category, meanwhile, is dominated by stream-ripping services, while publishing companies highlighted Sci-Hub and LibGen as persistent threats. The full list is completed by various hosting companies, IPTV services, and pirate apps and tools.<\/p>\n While all currently listed sites and services would likely prefer to remain unmentioned, there are no immediate consequences, at least as far as the EU is concerned. <\/p>\n The EU Commission notes that the Piracy Watch List mainly serves to encourage operators and owners, as well as local governments and enforcement authorities, to take appropriate action to reduce online piracy.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Update:<\/strong> After publication, ISTQ management informed us that it was surprised to be included in the report, while clarifying its position.<\/p>\n \u201cISTQ does not support, promote, or knowingly host any illegal services, including unlicensed IPTV. On the contrary, we have permanently suspended many client accounts in the past after receiving verified abuse reports related to such activities.<\/em><\/p>\n As a hosting provider, we receive new clients daily, and while we are unable to pre-screen the nature of their businesses, we take immediate action when any activity in violation of our terms or applicable laws is identified.<\/p>\n We operate under clear abuse handling procedures and cooperate fully with copyright holders and legal authorities. Our logs and actions are well documented and available for review upon request.<\/p>\n We are open to constructive dialogue and welcome any feedback on how we can strengthen our policies even further. We believe it\u2019s important that infrastructure providers who act in good faith are treated fairly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/em><\/p>\n A copy of the European Commission\u2019s fourth Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List is available here (pdf)<\/a>. A list of all the online piracy targets and intermediaries can be found below.<\/p>\n Cyberlockers<\/p>\n \u2013 Mega.nz\/.io Stream-Rippers<\/p>\n \u2013 YTMP3.CC, Ytmp3.nu (new)<\/em> Linking or referring websites<\/p>\n \u2013 Fmovies (clones, fmoviesto.site, f-moviesz.to) Peer-to-peer and BitTorrent indexing websites<\/p>\n \u2013 ThePirateBay.org (and related domains) Unlicensed download sites<\/p>\n Piracy Apps<\/p>\n \u2013 IPTV Smarters Hosting providers<\/p>\n \u2013 DDoS-Guard.net Unlicensed IPTV services<\/p>\n Piracy Supporting Services<\/p>\n \u2013 2embed.ru; 2embed, or 2embed[.]cc \/ 2embed[.]skin From: TF<\/a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.<\/p>\nNew Threats<\/h2>\n
![\"fitgirl\"](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/firgirlrepack.jpg\")
<\/center><\/p>\nNjalla: Off-the-Shelf Piracy Service?<\/h2>\n
![\"njalla](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/njallaerror.jpg\")
<\/center><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cryptocabaret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/paas.jpg\")
<\/center><\/p>\nIPFS<\/h2>\n
Usual Suspects<\/h2>\n
\n\u2013 Uptobox.com \/ Uptostream.com<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Rapidgator.net
\n\u2013 Uploaded.net (ul.to, uploaded.to)<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Dbree.org
\n\u2013 Doodstream (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Z-Library (new)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 X2mate.com (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Y2mate.com and related sites
\n\u2013 Savefrom.net \/ssyoutube.com\/sfrom.ne
\n\u2013 Flvto.biz and 2conv.com<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Snappea.com<\/strike><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Seasonvar.ru
\n\u2013 Rlsbb.ru
\n\u2013 Rezka.ag
\n\u2013 Dytt8[.]net, Dytt89.com, Dy2018.net, Dy2018[.]com, Dydytt[.]net, and Ygdy8[.]com (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Hianime (formerly Aniwatch[.]to and zoro[.]to) (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Cuevana[.]biz and Cuevana3[.]eu, Cuevana3[.]ch, Cuevana.is (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 nsw2u.xyz\/nsw2u.com\/nsw2u.net (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 fitgirl-repacks.site (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Pirlo TV (new)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Rarbg.to<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Rutracker.org
\n\u2013 1337x.to
\n\u2013 Interplanetary Distributed Literature Catalog (IPDL) (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) (new)<\/em><\/p>\n\u2013 Music-Bazaar.com and Music-Bazaar.mobi<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Sci-hub.io (Sci-hub.tw; sci-hub.cc; sci-hub.ac; sci-hub.bz and others)
\n\u2013 Libgen.onl and mirror sites<\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Ievpad.com
\n\u2013 MagisTV
\n\u2013 Shabakaty<\/strike><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Private Layer
\n\u2013 Virtual Systems, V-Sys (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Squitter, ABC Consultancy, Peenq, ESTOXY, BestDC, SERDECHS (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 \u201cAmarutu\u201d, also known as Koddos
\n\u2013 AS-Istqservers \/ Istqserverses (\u201cIstq\u201d)
\n\u2013 HostPalace Web Solution PVT LTD (\u201cHost Palace\u201d)<\/p>\n\u2013 BIPTV.best and BestBuyIPTV.store<\/strike>
\n\u2013 King365tv.com \/ Theking365tv.pro, Theking365tv.site
\n\u2013 VolkaIPTV.com \/.ru
\n\u2013 GenIPTV (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Dark IPTV (new)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Fembed.com<\/strike>
\n\u2013 Vidsrc[.]to (new)<\/em>
\n\u2013 Njal[.]la \u2013 1337 Services (new) <\/em>
\n\u2013 GDrivePlayer (new)<\/em><\/p>\n