Canal+ once again attacks Google, Cisco and Cloudflare for blocking IPTV pirate sites

Determined to protect its broadcasting rights, particularly for the Formula 1 world championship, Canal+ is continuing its offensive against piracy. This time, the encrypted channel is attacking three alternative DNS giants, Google, Cisco and Cloudflare, so that they block access to sites illegally broadcasting sports content.

Same player still playing. It is a tough fight waged by Canal+ against the piracy of its sports programs. Galvanized by its recent victories in court to block pirate sites broadcasting without authorization the Champions League, the English Premier League and the Top 14 rugby, the pay channel is returning to the front.

This time, it aims to protect the lucrative source of broadcasting the prestigious Formula 1 world championship, followed by more than a million viewers each year. With this in mind, Canal+ has taken legal action against the giants Google, Cisco and Cloudflare, key alternative DNS providers making it possible to circumvent the blocks already in force.

A new angle of attack to dry up the derivatives of piracy

If Canal+ is attacking these Internet behemoths head-on, it is because the traditional methods of combating the illegal distribution of content have reached their limits. Indeed, the simple blocking of pirate sites by Internet service providers is no longer enough, despite legal actions. Many tutorials explain how to fall back on alternative DNS servers to continue accessing illegal feeds. As a result, 5% of French people still resort to piracy to watch television.

This is why the encrypted channel decided to attack the source of this diverted navigation. Based on article L333-10 of the Sports Code, it demands that Google, Cloudflare and Cisco modify their DNS servers within 3 days to prevent access to around fifteen domain names such as futbolenvivo.ru , centralareana.live, crvsport.ru, livetv.lol, or even streameast.buffstream.io.

This injunction is as unprecedented as it is decisive, since a favorable decision, expected in July, would mark a major turning point. It would involve these global Internet giants integrating a new link in the piracy blocking chain.

Precedents paving the way for this new legal front

This frontal attack by Canal+ against the main alternative DNS providers is not an isolated case. It is part of the group’s offensive strategy to defend the exclusivity of its broadcasting rights to key sporting competitions.

As of December 2023, Canal+ had in fact taken Google, Cisco and Cloudflare to court to stop the illegal broadcast of Champions League and Premier League matches on certain sites. A first victory then forced these companies to block access to the disputed URLs.

Building on this success, the group did it again in May 2024 by taking legal action again to protect the broadcast of the Top 14 rugby. Around thirty sites were blocked until the end of the competition on June 29.

Now, it is the turn of the Formula 1 championship to be protected by this new legal weapon. This is a major challenge for Canal+, which cannot afford to allow piracy to flourish on this popular event bringing together more than a million fans each year.

Source : The Informed