The longstanding conflict between Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN and local ISPs Ziggo and KPN has primarily revolved around the contentious issue of whether to block The Pirate Bay in the Netherlands. However, as BREIN intensifies its efforts against pirate IPTV providers, the ISPs are also feeling the impact on their bundled TV services. Consequently, all parties now agree that more robust measures are necessary to combat the proliferation of pirate IPTV.
The dispute dates back to 2010 when BREIN initiated legal proceedings to block The Pirate Bay in the Netherlands. Ziggo, the country’s largest ISP, initially resisted BREIN’s request for a DNS and IP address blockade, prompting a legal battle. Ultimately, after years of litigation, BREIN prevailed in January 2012, following a ruling by The Court of The Hague that deemed the uploads associated with BitTorrent, although not the downloads, as illegal.
While the saga surrounding The Pirate Bay approached its conclusion, BREIN intensified its efforts against pirate IPTV services. These efforts targeted not only providers but also sellers, resellers, and set-top box vendors. For ISPs like Ziggo and KPN, accommodating bandwidth-consuming pirate IPTV consumers once contributed to their business. However, with broadband subscriptions forming just one aspect of their service offerings today, these ISPs are increasingly reliant on legal content sales for revenue.
The proliferation of pirate IPTV users, estimated at around 1.5 million Dutch households, has led to declining sales of legal TV packages, aligning the interests of BREIN and the ISPs. Consequently, all parties are now advocating for stronger government action against illegal IPTV. While the Public Prosecution Service is viewed as a potential ally, concerns remain about adopting a tough approach, particularly regarding criminal prosecutions against larger pirate IPTV services.
Efforts to raise consumer awareness about the risks associated with pirate IPTV services have been suggested as a potential solution. However, despite widespread awareness of the downsides highlighted by rightsholders, including links to criminal activities and malware, cost savings remain a significant incentive for consumers.
The unexpected alignment between BREIN, Ziggo, and KPN underscores the gravity of the situation. While past collaborations between BREIN and ISPs have encountered challenges, such as Ziggo’s refusal to forward piracy warnings to its customers, current circumstances may pave the way for future cooperation. Ultimately, the willingness of all parties to address the issue may hinge on timing and strategic considerations.