On the eve of the release of the EC’s assessment of its Recommendation (EU) 2023/1018 of 4 May 2023 on combating online piracy of sports and other live events, and as a reminder to European regulators, a host of media companies, sports leagues, broadcasters, distributors and technology providers issued a letter at the end of October, summarizing their comments toward improving the Recommendation.
In April 2025, the EC issued a call for comments to improve the 2023 Recommendation. When the comment period closed in June, 2025, 92 responses had been submitted.
The October letter’s signers called for:
- Ensure that, upon receipt of a notice, infringing content is taken down as near to immediately as is possible and in all cases within a maximum time frame of 30 minutes
- Ensure EU-wide live dynamic blocking orders (including IP blocking) that address mirror sites and successor domains are made available in all EU Member States.
- Ensure intermediaries (including but not limited to platforms, hosts, VPN, CDN and app stores) introduce and maintain robust Know Your Business Customer (KYBC) policies.
They also called for the comprehensive enforcement of the Digital Services Act and on national Digital Services Coordinators to award private bodies such as Trusted Flaggers when requested.
The EC defines Trusted Flagger status to applicants that are “established and … recognised by all providers of online platforms … The status should only be awarded to entities (not individuals) that have demonstrated that they have particular expertise and competence in tackling illegal content and that they work in a diligent, accurate and objective manner.”
Media stakeholders made additional comments
In addition to the pleas in the submitted letter, several of the signatory companies released their own additional comments
- “Piracy is the greatest threat to sport right now, and no real or effective measures are being taken to combat it,” said Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, the Spanish professional football league. There is a lot of talk about improvements and change, but no real willingness to act. That must change.” In Spain, losses are estimated between €600 million and €700 million per year for LALIGA clubs alone.
- In a LinkedIN post, Executive Director of the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance Miruna Herovanu added, “Following the money, disrupting the financial incentives, and ensuring swift cooperation across intermediaries are essential if we are to cut the lifeline of these criminal networks. The data is clear, and the tools exist—what is needed now is political will and decisive legislative action.
- United Media said “We welcomed the European Commission’s 2023 Recommendation on tackling online piracy of sports and other live events, but noted that its implementation has yet to deliver concrete results.”
The EC’s assessment of the effects of the Recommendation on combatting online piracy of sports and other live events, which took these comments into account, was published on November 20, 2025.
Why it matters
The letter’s signatories said that:
“We operate in increasingly competitive markets and invest heavily in original content, infrastructure, technology, and people — all to deliver live experiences that are trusted, legal, and of the highest- quality. However, our investments continue to be threatened by organised criminal enterprises. For years, rightsowners have raised the alarm. Today, piracy has reached scales that can no longer be ignored.
“While we acknowledge the important work undertaken by the European Commission in addressing this challenge through the 2023 Recommendation on combating online piracy of sports and other live events, its implementation has yet to deliver tangible results.”
The letter cited a Grant Thornton study released in September 2025, saying that 81% of illegal streams detected in Europe were not suspended, and that only 3% were suspended within a target interval of 30 minutes.
Further reading
Urgent call for EU legislative action against online piracy of live content. Letter. October 2025. (36 signatories)
Research: Online piracy trends worsen despite European Commission recommendation. Article. September 10, 2025. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
More than 90 recommendations to European Commission 2023 anti-piracy consultation. Article. June 13, 2025. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor.
European Commission seeks input now, to improve anti-piracy recommendations by November. Article. May 2, 2025. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor.
