AGCOM has recently dealt a severe blow to piracy in Italy, blocking six websites that allowed the so-called “stream ripping”, or the illegal practice of downloading audio and video from online content. The Authority’s intervention occurred following a report from the Federation against Musical and Multimedia Piracy (FPM), for the protection of copyright and intellectual property.
Stream ripping is in fact the most widespread form of copyright infringement in the music industry, constituting a third of the detected violations. This practice, which has grown rapidly in recent months, allows you to easily download audio and video files from platforms such as YouTube, simply by inserting the link of the desired content.
According to data provided by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI), these illegal sites recorded an average of 10 million accesses from Italy per month, with a 10% increase in the first four months of 2024. A worrying phenomenon that damages the music industry, and not only.
AGCOM’s action is an important signal to combat online piracy and protect copyright. The blocking of the six sites, including domains dedicated to mobile versions, limits access to tools that facilitate the violation of intellectual property. FIMI has not specified which sites have been blocked, so let us know in the comments if you have come across any of those affected by the measure.
The parties involved then highlighted that the fight against piracy is an ongoing commitment and requires a multidisciplinary approach involving institutions, the music industry and users. It is essential to raise public awareness of the damage caused by piracy and promote the use of legal platforms for access to music and video content.
What do you think? Can interventions like these limit the spread of piracy on platforms like YouTube? Or do you find these types of measures anachronistic in a world where music and videos are always just a click away? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
#AGCOM #Blocks #Stream #Ripping #Sites #Allowed #Users #Download #Entire #YouTube #Videos #Free