Anti-piracy glossary

A site that hosts nothing itself but gathers links to pirate streams or files, often sorted by match or by title. For live sports, the links only appear a few minutes before kick-off.

An intermediary service, such as Cloudflare, that sits in front of a site to speed it up and protect it. It also hides the address of the real server: a notice sent to the CDN does not reach the host that holds the file.

YouTube's system that compares uploaded videos against a database of works supplied by rights holders, and applies the rule they chose: block, monetize or track.

A YouTube program reserved for rights holders and their representatives who report large volumes. It provides a tool to search and remove in bulk. AgencePDN has been a member for over 10 years.

The reply from a person whose content was removed, when they believe the removal was a mistake. In the United States, the platform may restore the content if the rights holder does not start legal action within the period set by law.

Removing a page from a search engine's results. The page stays online on its site, but can no longer be found by searching. This is what Google does when it accepts a notice.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a 1998 US law. It shields platforms from liability for their users' content, provided they promptly remove a copy reported through a valid notice. Because most major services are American, it applies well beyond the United States.

A court order requiring internet providers to block pirate addresses, with new ones added without going back before the judge. In Canada, the Federal Court has issued them for live sports since 2022.

A video player shown on a streaming site's page, whose file is served by another service. The site is the shop window, the player is the source: the player is what must be taken down.

A storage service where anyone can upload a file and share its link. Direct-download sites point to them for books, films and software.

The company that rents out the server where a site or a file is stored. When the site does not answer notices, the host is the one that can cut the content off.

A subscription sold for a few dollars a month that gives access to thousands of channels captured without permission, through an app or a set-top box.

A company that connects its subscribers to the internet. In Canada, a court can order it to block access to certain sites or addresses.

A public database where Google and other platforms file the takedown notices they receive, after removing certain personal information.

A copy of a pirate site under another domain name. When one address is blocked or removed, the site carries on under another. Good tracking links mirrors back to their original site.

The Canadian regime in force since January 2, 2015 (sections 41.25 to 41.27 of the Copyright Act). An internet provider that receives a notice must forward it to its subscriber and keep its records, but nothing requires it to remove the content. Not to be confused with the American notice-and-takedown regime.

The company with which a domain name is registered. It does not host the site and cannot remove a page from it.

Extracting the audio or video from a streaming service, YouTube for example, to turn it into a file that is kept.

A message sent to a site, a host or a platform to report an unauthorized copy and ask for its removal. It identifies the work, the exact address of the copy and the person acting for the rights holder.

A way of sharing in which the file is exchanged directly between users. The torrent site only holds the link, often as a “magnet” link.

The program through which Google lets recognized specialists submit large volumes of notices for its search results. AgencePDN has been a member since March 2023.

The public record of a domain name: registrar, dates, and sometimes the owner's contact details or an address for reporting abuse.