Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment

With 50+ member organizations across the globe and powered by leading media companies, we're combatting content piracy in new ways to protect consumers and support a thriving creative economy. Want to know more? Visit alliance4creativity.com.

The @FBI Cyber Division’s IC3 is warning about a growing cyber threat: Android streaming boxes and other internet-connected consumer devices showing up in stores already infected with malware, quietly turning home and small business networks into launchpads for fraud and cyberattacks. Cyber criminals exploit these compromised devices as #ResidentialProxies – to mask who they are and where they're operating from. The good news: Working with the FBI and other global partners, ACE is committed to staying ahead of the threat. Read more: ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA26…

Protecting creativity takes leadership across law enforcement, policy, technology, and global partnerships. This #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re recognizing the women helping lead that work every day, strengthening the fight against piracy and protecting the creative ecosystem around the world. We’re proud to highlight members of our team whose expertise and leadership make a meaningful impact: Karyn Temple, Larissa Knapp, Jesse Martin, Dawn Barriteau, Julie Kever, Lynn Chehab, and Hillary Duchow. Thank you for the dedication and leadership you bring to protecting creativity and supporting creators everywhere.

An $18.75 million federal judgment just sent a clear message: no piracy operator is beyond reach. A U.S. District Court in Texas entered a default judgment against William Freemon, the operator behind Streaming TV Now, Instant IPTV, TV Nitro, and a reseller network designed to distribute stolen content at scale. The court awarded $18.75 million in statutory damages and ordered the transfer of all piracy-related domains to ACE. As Karyn Temple said: "We welcome the court's decision and remain committed to aggressively pursuing individuals and networks that threaten the creative economy." This judgment marks another step forward in ACE’s global efforts to protect the legal creative marketplace and hold piracy operators accountable. Read more: bit.ly/4uqRVqy

The world’s largest live sports piracy network is now facing criminal charges. Last year, StreamEast dominated the global sports piracy ecosystem. Today, Egyptian authorities have referred two defendants to trial for allegedly operating hundreds of illegal streaming domains, including StreamEast and CrackStreams, which together generated more than 1 billion visits annually. Cases like this show how global anti-piracy enforcement works in practice. Technical intelligence from the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) helped investigators trace the network’s infrastructure, supporting authorities in identifying those responsible and building the case. It is one of the most significant enforcement actions against live sports piracy to date, and a reminder that large-scale piracy operations are not invisible. They can be traced. They can be investigated. And their operators will be held accountable. #LiveTier #SportsPiracy #Cybersecurity #CriminalJustice #IP

The USTR’s 2025 Notorious Markets List once again exposes the illicit platforms and infrastructure driving global piracy. More than 15 piracy operations identified by the Motion Picture Association were included in this year’s report, alongside recognition of ACE’s landmark takedown of Streameast,  once the world’s largest live sports piracy ring. The report also underscores the growing threat of live sports piracy. With the global sports broadcast market valued at $62.6 billion and piracy draining up to $28 billion annually, the stakes for rights holders, leagues, and the broader sports ecosystem are enormous. ACE continues to expand partnerships with broadcasters, sports leagues, technology platforms, and international law enforcement to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the creative marketplace. bit.ly/4beq6ZY

The USTR’s 2025 Notorious Markets List once again exposes the illicit platforms and infrastructure driving global piracy. More than 15 piracy operations identified by the Motion Picture Association were included in this year’s report, alongside recognition of ACE’s landmark takedown of Streameast,  once the world’s largest live sports piracy ring. The report also underscores the growing threat of live sports piracy. With the global sports broadcast market valued at $62.6 billion and piracy draining up to $28 billion annually, the stakes for rights holders, leagues, and the broader sports ecosystem are enormous. ACE continues to expand partnerships with broadcasters, sports leagues, technology platforms, and international law enforcement to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the creative marketplace. bit.ly/4beq6ZY

We are excited to welcome Raúl Rolo as the new Vice President & Regional Legal Counsel for Latin America. Raúl brings extensive experience spanning public policy, intellectual property, litigation and general legal matters. Read more: motionpictures.org/press/mpa-appo… @ACE_antipiracy

Cam-ripping is a crime — and a German court has now held an individual accountable for capturing films in theaters and pushing them into the illegal marketplace, delivering a decisive strike at content theft at its source. The case underscores the critical role of law enforcement and justice systems in protecting the creative marketplace and the millions of jobs it supports. “We commend German law enforcement and prosecutors for their decisive action against piracy at its source,” said Larissa Knapp, EVP & Chief Content Protection Officer, Motion Picture Association. “This sentence sends a clear message: unauthorized copying and distribution of films in theatrical release is a serious criminal offense.” Read more: bit.ly/4l3A5pl

The Motion Picture Association has appointed Thomas Limouzin-Lamothe as Vice President of Content Protection for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — doubling down on intelligence-led enforcement across the region. With more than 20 years of global experience in IP law and anti-piracy operations, Thomas was involved in major cross-border investigations and enforcement initiatives at The Walt Disney Company, and he’s led multinational teams at 21st Century Fox, and Microsoft. His work has targeted illicit IPTV networks, live sports piracy, and the broader criminal ecosystems that exploit creative content. bit.ly/4rXVJO2

After operating in plain sight for more than 20 years and drawing millions of monthly users, Bulgaria’s most notorious torrent trackers’ domains were seized. ACE worked alongside the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, U.S. Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Investigations, contributing intelligence, infringement analysis, and evidentiary support to a coordinated effort to detect, deter, and dismantle the infringing websites. #DigitalPiracy #ContentProtection #IntellectualProperty

We were proud to attend the @ShopeeSG Summit 2026, where the Motion Picture Association received the “Best Industry Collaboration” award. This recognition is a testament to the strong working relationship we have built with Shopee. Effective enforcement today depends on close cooperation with intermediary partners — marketplaces, platforms, payment providers, and others that play a critical role in disrupting and dismantling piracy operations. Our collaboration with Shopee has focused on practical, results-oriented initiatives, including addressing the issue of illegal streaming devices, strengthening proactive detection systems, and deepening engagement and information sharing globally. These efforts reflect our shared commitment to supporting legitimate businesses, protecting consumers, and safeguarding the creative economy. These efforts demonstrate what can be achieved through sustained partnership, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in the year ahead.

Your online safety matters. Some streaming sites aren’t what they appear, many are built to harvest data, distribute malware, or profit from stolen content. Knowing how to identify and report piracy helps you stay secure and supports a healthier digital ecosystem for everyone. Knowing how to spot and report piracy is a critical step in protecting your data, strengthening digital security, and disrupting illegal distribution networks. Get the facts and take action: bit.ly/3M5EACB

At SHIELD Conclave 2026 in Hyderabad last week, @motionpictures' Dawn Barriteau shared her vision for enforcement strategies, legal frameworks, and tech interventions that disrupt #digitalpiracy and protect IP. Hosted by @TGCyberBureau, the #cybersecurity conference brought together law enforcement, content producers, tech leaders, and other stakeholders to engage and collaborate. #SHIELD2026 #IPprotection

Phishing doesn’t usually look suspicious — it looks routine. Messages that create urgency, ask you to verify something, or include an unexpected link are designed to make you react fast. If something feels off, rushed, unusual, or out of pattern, pause and verify. Think before you click.

ACE leads global, intelligence‑driven efforts to uncover large‑scale piracy networks and dismantle the criminal operations behind them. By combining coordinated investigations, cross‑border enforcement, and industry collaboration, ACE targets illegal platforms at their source and disrupts the systems that sustain them. Follow for direct insight into enforcement actions as they happen, the intelligence shaping industry response, and how global collaboration actively protects consumers and defends creativity. Learn more: bit.ly/45zbUss

ICYMI: ACE, in partnership with the @BBC, convened the IPTV Task Force Summit in London this week, advancing coordinated global efforts to disrupt illicit IPTV networks. The session explored how unauthorized IPTV services and piracy apps are increasingly used to spread malware, fueling residential proxy networks that help criminals conceal their activity, avoid detection, and operate across borders. Discussions also underscored the growing links between these services and broader criminal networks, including organized crime. Experts from law enforcement and industry shared insights into the intelligence, technologies, and legal tools ACE and its global partners use to detect, deter, and dismantle illicit IPTV operations.

ACE, together with the @BBC, is convening content protection leaders and law enforcement partners in London today for a summit on the IPTV threat landscape. As the industry’s leading coalition, ACE continues to bring together key partners to drive effective, real-world enforcement. The session brings together ACE member companies and global law enforcement, industry partners, and key intermediaries, highlighting the power of trusted, long-term collaboration.

Cybersecurity starts with everyday choices. When it comes to piracy apps, sideloading puts users and devices at real risk. Installing apps outside trusted app stores bypasses built-in security safeguards. That opens the door to malware, data theft, hidden payment scams, and unauthorized access to personal information. What looks like a shortcut can quickly become a serious vulnerability. The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment continues to raise awareness of these risks while working globally to combat piracy and protect creators. Read the blog to learn why sideloading piracy apps can put your security at risk: bit.ly/3ZsI2up

What looks like a simple “free stream” can put your data at risk. Digital piracy exposes users to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud and costs the film and TV industry billions every year.

This is what partnership looks like at scale. With ACE support, global law enforcement shut down a massive illegal IPTV network serving millions of users worldwide. Operation Switch Off spanned 14 countries and 11 Italian cities, involving more than 100 officers, and led to the dismantling of approximately 250 resellers, the identification of 31 suspects, and the seizure of infrastructure powering unauthorized TV and on-demand platforms. ACE applauds the Italian State Police, the District Prosecutor’s Office of Catania, and international partners for coordinated enforcement that protects consumers and legitimate streaming ecosystems. bit.ly/4k2SrWQ