A new joint study by IP House and the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) shows a clear change in the global piracy ecosystem: Digital piracy networks are increasingly acting like professionally organised criminal enterprises and are sometimes closely linked to other illegal markets.
The study „Organised. Piracy. Crime.“ is based on six months of analysis, including interviews with international law enforcement agencies and the evaluation of investigative cases and global data sets.
Piracy as a criminal business model
According to the study, modern piracy networks have evolved from simple illegal streaming or download sites to complex, profit-driven structures developed. Revenue is generated through advertising, subscriptions and so-called „Piracy-as-a-Service“ models, in which complete infrastructure is rented out to third parties.
The operators are globally distributed, digitally networked and often operate outside of effective national law enforcement.
Links to organised crime
The increasing overlap with other criminal activities described in the study is particularly explosive. These include money laundering, fraud, illegal gambling and, in individual cases, links to drug and arms trafficking.
A case study from Europe describes a network that generates an estimated 3.5 billion US dollars through a combination of piracy and other illegal activities.
„Criminal companies instead of piracy sites“
The authors of the study emphasise that traditional terms such as „piracy site“ no longer reflect reality. Jan van Voorn (IP House) speaks of „diversified criminal enterprises“ that are deeply embedded in global illegal economies.
The Digital Citizens Alliance also warns of a growing threat to consumers and the economy. Tom Galvin describes the networks as highly developed criminal structures in which roles between piracy, drug trafficking and money laundering are increasingly overlapping.
Demand: tougher regulation and international cooperation
The study calls for greater international coordination in the fight against digital piracy. This includes:
- Stricter criminal law measures
- Expansion of website blocks
- Closer cooperation between the state and the private sector
- and the clear classification of piracy as organised crime
Conclusion
The study paints a clear picture: digital piracy is no longer a marginal phenomenon of internet culture, but part of a global, criminally organised business model with considerable economic and security policy implications - including for the film and media industry.