Piracy thrives in pandemic : Report

The latest Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment, produced jointly between Europol and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), casts new light on the scope, magnitude and trends in counterfeiting and piracy in the EU. The report, based on data from across the EU as well as Europol’s operational information, confirms that counterfeiting and piracy continue to pose a serious threat to the health and safety of consumers, as well as to the European economy.

The online and offline distribution of fake and substandard goods has been a key criminal activity during the pandemic and the health crisis caused by COVID-19 has highlighted the fact that criminal organisations recognise no borders. This report and executive summary provide a comprehensive assessment of this criminal activity and its impact in the EU.

Piracy is now almost exclusively a digital crime. Consumers’ media consumption preferences have shifted towards streaming services for accessing digital content via a variety of applications and platforms. The criminals involved are adept at using advanced technical countermeasures. In some cases, digital content piracy is linked to other cybercrime activities such as cryptojacking or the distribution of malware.

Websites illegally distributing audio-visual content are hosted on servers across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The criminals involved are adept at using advanced technical countermeasures. In some cases, digital content piracy is linked to other cybercrime activities such as crypto-jacking or the distribution of malware. Pirates exploit new technologies to conceal digital traces and use proxy services to create resilient hosting networks. The online presence during the COVID 19 pandemic led to an increased offer of high-quality streaming devices and a variety of illicit content offers. BCS Bureau