Taking down pirate websites has always been a challenging task, but disabling their domain names is proving to be one of the most effective—at least temporarily. Historically, domain registries have been hesitant to intervene in such matters. However, a strategic approach can yield results. This week, Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN announced that its complaints led to actions from both the .nl and .eu domain registries against several piracy-related websites. Surprisingly, these takedowns were not directly linked to copyright infringement.
The Role of Domain Registries in Anti-Piracy Efforts
For years, the entertainment industry has pushed domain registries to play an active role in combating online piracy. Some registries have partnered with organizations like the Motion Picture Association (MPA), agreeing to flag and disable domains associated with illicit activities. However, not all registries have been cooperative.
For example, the Public Interest Registry (PIR), which manages .org domains, has previously refused to take action against The Pirate Bay, citing concerns about maintaining a free and open internet. Meanwhile, other domain extensions such as .cc, .io, and .tv have been labeled “notorious piracy markets” for their perceived inaction in curbing copyright violations.
Recent Takedowns by Dutch and European Registries
Despite the ongoing debate, some domain registries have begun responding to anti-piracy complaints. BREIN recently announced a significant development in its fight against piracy, stating that the Dutch SIDN (.nl) and European EURid (.eu) registries had suspended multiple domains linked to pirate activities.
According to BREIN, SIDN targeted IPTV-related domains such as streamdeal.nl, iptvproviders.nl, omniptv.nl, and iptvstreamplus.nl. Meanwhile, EURid took down seven domains that facilitated access to pirated movies, music, books, and games. These sites had been registered through proxy services, making it difficult to identify their true owners.
The Real Reason Behind the Takedowns
While BREIN has claimed success, the actual reason for these takedowns had little to do with copyright infringement. Instead, both SIDN and EURid confirmed that the domains were suspended due to inaccurate WHOIS registration details, which violates their terms of service.
SIDN spokesperson Marnie van Duijnhoven clarified that the domains were taken down not because of piracy-related complaints but due to the registrants’ failure to provide or verify accurate information. EURid echoed this explanation, citing breaches of their registration policies as the reason for the suspensions.
BREIN’s Perspective: A Different Route to the Same Goal
BREIN director Bastiaan van Ramshorst acknowledged that copyright infringement wasn’t the official cause of these takedowns. However, he noted that many pirate site operators deliberately use false WHOIS information to remain anonymous. By leveraging this policy, BREIN can still achieve its ultimate goal of disrupting pirate operations.
“Our focus is on eliminating domains that contribute to large-scale copyright violations,” Van Ramshorst stated. “Whether it’s done through copyright enforcement or registration policy breaches, the result is the same: these domains go offline.”
A Growing Trend in Domain Enforcement
While it’s uncertain whether domain verification takedowns will become a widespread anti-piracy tactic, recent data suggests this approach may be more effective than traditional copyright complaints. SIDN’s latest transparency report shows that it received only 39 copyright-related takedown requests in the first three quarters of the year. However, during the same period, more than 5,000 domain suspensions were initiated under SIDN’s policies regarding inaccurate registrant information.
This shift in strategy underscores the changing nature of online piracy enforcement. As direct copyright-based actions become increasingly complex due to legal and jurisdictional challenges, compliance measures from domain registries offer an alternative way to disrupt piracy networks. Whether this method will yield long-term success remains to be seen, but for now, BREIN appears to have discovered an effective loophole in its ongoing battle against digital piracy.
