MPA applauds UK High Court’s “omnibus” order to block digital piracy

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has welcomed a UK High Court order that streamlines the process for blocking access to proven piracy services when they switch names or website domains to evade court orders.

The MPA, which represents leading US studios and streamers, said the court’s “omnibus” order marks a practical advance in the fight against digital piracy as the online piracy ecosystem becomes more automated and increasingly agile.

When an illicit domain or brand is blocked or disrupted, piracy operators often respond by quickly moving to new domains, copycat services, or rebranded websites. That constant change undermines enforcement and forces rightsholders, courts, and intermediaries into repetitive processes.

The order comes as AI tools are increasingly used to generate domains, websites, and evasive infrastructure at scale.

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According to the MPA, the UK High Court’s “omnibus” order marks a practical advance in the fight against digital piracy. Credit: Monika Wisniewska

Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the MPA, said: “This order, built on a years-long track record of safe, responsible, and effective prior orders, affirms that judicial site blocking is a vital tool to protect creators and consumers from piracy-related harms while also supporting a well-functioning internet and defending democratic values.”

“We welcome the High Court’s recognition that effective enforcement must adapt to the threats posed by piracy operators, as enforcement frameworks need to be flexible and efficient enough to respond to the evolving piracy landscape. The decision reflects a balanced, evidence-based, and proportionate approach that supports faster, more scalable action against piracy while maintaining appropriate safeguards.”

Italy's financial police recently dismantled a streaming piracy network that caused an estimated €300m in ‌damages to rights holders such as Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+. Discover more here.

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