Piracy/Spain: court ruling allows LaLiga and Movistar to request blocking of pirate websites by ISPs

"Barcelona’s (ESP) commercial court has agreed on a weekly procedure that will permit the immediate blocking of domains belonging to more than 40 pirate IPTV and cardsharing platforms with the cooperation of Spain's leading internet providers (Vodafone, Orange, MásMóvil, Digimóbil and Telefonica)," announced LaLiga on 29/12/2021.

As a result of this measure, national internet service providers (ISPs) will be legally required to block domains linked to pirated platforms at the request of LaLiga and its domestic broadcaster Movistar+ (Telefonica group). Both entities are now authorised "to send weekly requests for the blocking of new domains within an agreed timeframe. This will make it possible to act swiftly, at the speed required to combat the ever-evolving platforms that exist in the world of football piracy," said the Spanish body.

"The ruling is a response to a joint complaint from Movistar+ and LaLiga. The complaint asked for judicial authorisation for a more agile and immediate means of fighting against the piracy of exclusive sporting events and it was in line with legislation…