Online piracy is becoming increasingly sophisticated, involving illegal IPTV networks, VPN services, payment intermediaries, and constantly changing online infrastructure. These challenges were at the centre of discussions during the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (LRTK) conference “Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment 2026”, held in Vilnius on 28 May.

The event, organised for the fifth consecutive year, brought together experts in law, media, cybersecurity, and intellectual property to discuss the latest trends in online piracy, their impact on the market, and the risks they pose to consumers.

Opening the conference, LRTK Chairperson Mantas Martišius stressed that online piracy is no longer solely a copyright issue.

“Today, piracy is also a matter of consumer protection, cybersecurity, and digital responsibility. Illegal content platforms increasingly rely on complex technological and financial schemes, creating risks not only for rights holders but also for users themselves,” he noted.

The filmai.in Case: How Piracy Platforms Stay Online

One of the conference’s key topics was the high-profile filmai.in case. Participants were given an inside look at how piracy websites operate, including the revenue models used to monetize illegal content, the infrastructure solutions employed to bypass blocking measures, and the use of VPNs and intermediary services to remain accessible to users.

Andrius Katinas, Head of the LRTK’s Market Participants Supervision Division, presented the latest data on piracy trends in Lithuania and across Europe, as well as the tools used by the Commission to combat illegal content online.

Data presented at the conference highlighted the scale of enforcement efforts. Between 1 January 2025 and 1 May 2026, users were redirected to LRTK-managed information websites — atstop.rtk.lt, stop.rtk.lt, and eustop.rtk.lt — a total of 2,329,902 times, involving more than 100,000 unique users.

Updated figures on website blocking were also presented. To date, the LRTK has blocked:

• 647 domains linked to illegal IPTV services;
• 359 domains involved in copyright infringements;
• 297 domains and 7,735 IP addresses related to the enforcement of EU sanctions.

Legal Enforcement and Consumer Awareness

The conference also explored the legal aspects of combating piracy. Vadim Gasperskij, Head of the LRTK Legal Department, reviewed the application of administrative liability under Article 122 of Lithuania’s Code of Administrative Offences, presented enforcement statistics, and discussed recent cases.

In 2025, the most common penalty imposed for copyright-related violations was a €140 fine, issued in 134 cases. However, individuals who distributed illegal content for commercial purposes faced significantly higher penalties, including fines of €1,900. The total amount of fines imposed during the period reached approximately €28,220.

Speakers emphasized that online piracy today goes far beyond simply downloading films illegally. Increasingly, illegal content is distributed through sophisticated commercial schemes involving payment processors, advertising networks, IPTV services, and infrastructure located in multiple jurisdictions.

Part of the programme was also dedicated to consumer behaviour. Experts examined the most common explanations provided by individuals who become subject to LRTK investigations or administrative penalties, while also presenting awareness-raising initiatives aimed at encouraging responsible online content consumption.

Copyright Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

A significant part of the discussion focused on the growing relationship between artificial intelligence and copyright protection.

Žiga Drobnic, representative of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), presented an overview of online piracy trends across the European Union, the rapidly growing illegal IPTV market, and anti-piracy measures currently being developed and implemented across the EU.

According to data presented during the conference, illegal IPTV services generate more than €1 billion in annual revenue across Europe. More than one quarter of young people aged 15–24 access sports content through illegal sources.

The EUIPO representative also discussed how generative AI models use copyrighted works for training purposes, the obligations placed on AI developers under the EU AI Act, and the options available to rights holders seeking to restrict the use of their works for AI training.

According to Žiga Drobnic, growing attention across Europe is being paid not only to piracy prevention but also to issues such as transparency in AI-generated content, copyright protection, and the development of future licensing frameworks.

Looking Ahead

As online piracy continues to evolve and new technologies reshape the digital landscape, conference participants highlighted the need for closer cooperation between regulators, rights holders, technology companies, and consumers.

This year marked the fifth edition of the LRTK conference “Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment,” reflecting the Commission’s continued commitment to strengthening copyright protection and addressing emerging challenges in the digital environment.