Online piracy is once again making headlines worldwide as new movies and shows are being leaked within hours of release, threatening the future of streaming platforms and the entertainment business. Recent leaks of major films like Border 2 and The Raaj Saab have shown that despite stronger legal frameworks and anti-piracy measures, infringing content continues to spread rapidly across pirated sites and messaging platforms.
Border 2, one of Bollywood’s first big releases of 2026, was illegally uploaded to notorious piracy websites such as Tamilrockers and shared widely on Telegram soon after it opened in theaters. Indian copyright law allows for heavy fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders, yet these penalties have done little to stop widespread illegal downloads. In a similar vein, Prabhas’ The Raaj Saab has also been hit by piracy on multiple notorious sites, highlighting how even big-budget films with strong box-office starts are struggling against digital leaks.
This surge in piracy isn’t limited to India. Globally, piracy traffic remains enormous, with hundreds of billions of visits to pirate streaming and download sites every year. Even though overall film piracy visits have declined slightly as legal streaming options have grown, the issue persists at an alarming scale, with TV shows, anime, books, and video content still widely copied and shared.
Live-sports streaming has also become a battlefield for piracy prevention. Authorities recently shut down a major UK-based illegal IPTV service used to broadcast Premier League matches without authorization, arresting suspects and seizing equipment valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds. Officials warned that illegal streams don’t just cost rights holders money—they can also expose users to serious cybersecurity threats. Despite such enforcement successes, piracy has evolved far beyond simple website hosting. Rogue streaming devices have become a new frontier, offering access to pirated content bundled into inexpensive hardware marketed through informal channels.
Industry groups and entertainment companies continue to push for stronger legal actions against piracy. In India, the Delhi High Court recently issued a sweeping injunction aimed at blocking more than 150 piracy domains associated with illegal distribution of movies, series, and animated content. This “Dynamic Plus Plus” order empowers authorities to cut off access not just to known sites but to any new domain equivalents as they emerge, signaling a more aggressive approach to fighting piracy at its source.
Other countries are also fortifying their copyright laws to combat digital theft. Nigeria’s Copyright Act now includes rapid takedown provisions designed to help entertainment businesses protect their intellectual property online more effectively, while international anti-piracy coalitions like the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment continue global efforts to detect and dismantle pirate networks.
Despite these moves, experts emphasize that enforcement alone won’t win the war against piracy. Research shows that enforcement responses frequently lag behind the speed and flexibility of pirate operations, particularly in live broadcasts where unauthorized streams can appear within minutes of a match or event starting. This gap highlights the need for more proactive and scalable prevention strategies beyond takedown notices and legal injunctions.
The economic impact of piracy is equally stark. In markets like India, over half of internet users still access pirated content regularly, even though streaming costs are relatively low. This behavior reflects deeper issues around content availability, convenience, and perceived value, further complicating the fight against piracy.
Piracy drains billions of dollars from the global entertainment ecosystem each year, undercutting revenue not only for major studios and streaming subscribers but also for smaller creators and regional platforms. When a leak occurs, it disrupts the entire revenue model—from ticket sales and advertising to subscription growth—creating ripple effects that hurt everyone involved in the content chain.
As streaming continues to dominate how audiences watch film and television, the clash between convenience, cost, and copyright enforcement remains one of the industry’s most pressing challenges. With legal battles, new laws, and technology innovations unfolding around the world, the fight against piracy is far from over—but it is evolving in response to the shifting digital landscape.
