Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern technology, with applications spanning customer service, healthcare, and even national security. Now, AI is making waves in copyright enforcement, offering new, more efficient ways to tackle digital piracy.
WIPO Meeting Highlights AI-Driven Copyright Solutions
At the recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Advisory Committee on Enforcement meeting, AI-powered anti-piracy solutions took center stage. One of the most notable presentations came from Portuguese company NOS Technology, which introduced an advanced AI-driven copyright protection tool.
This innovative system employs cutting-edge digital technologies—including generative AI, blockchain, and machine learning—to monitor and respond to piracy in real time. However, while the potential of such a system is exciting, specific details on its technical implementation remain scarce.
AI-Powered Piracy Detection and Real-Time Enforcement
Pedro Bravo, Head of Content Protection at NOS Technology, emphasized the increasing sophistication of digital piracy and the limitations of traditional manual monitoring methods. He explained that AI is crucial for automating enforcement on a large scale.
“These solutions utilize AI, generative AI, machine learning, blockchain, and automation to detect, confirm, and act against piracy in real time, ensuring intellectual property is protected at every stage,” Bravo stated.
A standout feature of the system is its ability to issue takedown requests and block pirated streams automatically. While AI-assisted takedown systems are not new, integrating these capabilities with internet service providers (ISPs) for real-time blocking marks a significant evolution in enforcement strategies.
Direct ISP-Level Blocking for Faster Response
NOS Technology’s AI-powered tool appears to establish a direct API connection with ISPs, enabling real-time blocking of infringing content at the domain or IP level. This method is already in effect in Portugal, where rights holders can request dynamic site blocking through administrative and legal frameworks.
A key point in NOS Technology’s presentation outlined how the tool integrates into Portugal’s existing system:
“Legal and administrative processes in Portugal allow IP rights owners to request real-time or permanent takedowns at the Domain or IP level. The anti-piracy tool detects, verifies, and sends an order to a blocking gateway connected via API to the ISP.”
This automation reduces the need for human intervention, ensuring swift and seamless enforcement against unauthorized content distribution.
Hollywood’s Interest in AI-Powered Copyright Enforcement
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a leading advocate for global anti-piracy efforts, has also taken an interest in AI-driven copyright protection. During the same WIPO session, MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple highlighted the growing importance of automated enforcement tools.
Temple underscored the necessity of automated site-blocking measures in today’s rapidly changing piracy landscape. These systems continuously scan DNS servers and IP addresses for infringing content, relaying updates to ISPs for immediate action.
“Automated communication systems between rightsholders and ISPs allow for swift updates on infringing online locations, ensuring timely blocking under a dynamic court order or the supervision of competent authorities,” Temple noted.
While NOS Technology explicitly markets its system as AI-powered, the degree to which artificial intelligence plays a role in the blocking process remains uncertain. Nonetheless, automation is becoming a central pillar of modern copyright enforcement strategies.
The Future of AI in the War on Piracy
As AI continues to evolve, both copyright enforcers and digital pirates will seek to exploit its capabilities. AI-driven enforcement tools can detect and block pirated content with unprecedented efficiency, but adversaries are likely to develop countermeasures.
The key question remains: Can AI outpace digital piracy, or will it merely fuel a technological arms race? Regardless of the outcome, one fact is clear—AI is now an indispensable tool in the fight against online piracy, shaping the future of copyright protection.
