Hollywood companies are starting to file lawsuits against major VPN providers.
Due to the popularity of torrenting and streaming, Hollywood is taking VPN providers to court to remove anonymous IP addresses provided by VPNs.
We want to know your thoughts after reading this story in the comments below. What do you think of Hollywood companies pursuing legal action against VPNs?
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Hollywood Companies Filing Lawsuits Against VPNs
According to several reports including one from Wired, a group of over twenty film studios are repeatedly pursuing legal action against popular VPN providers.
These filmmakers are attempting to recoup the millions of dollars in lost revenue from piracy.
Hollywood companies have also alleged for a long time that VPN providers encourage online piracy and have clear evidence that their customers are abusing the privacy provided by VPNs.
Hide Your Digital Fingerprint
Two popular VPN providers that have been in the crosshairs of Hollywood so far in 2022 include ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA). Both of these VPNs are owned by the parent company Kape Technologies.
These two VPNs along with several others claim a “no logs policy” meaning the VPN provider does not store any Internet activity logs of its users.
In other words, VPN providers with a “no logs policy” can’t access user data to turn over to authorities if confiscated.
According to the official court documentation, on March 26, 2022, several film companies brought allegations against ExpressVPN and PIA (Kape Technologies) for allegations of user piracy.
The plaintiffs argued that VPN providers “refuse to prevent users from using their services to commit serious illegal acts and run marketing campaigns that boast about law enforcement being unable to extract any user information.”
The lawsuit against Kape Technologies states the following:
“Emboldened by Defendants’ promises that their identities cannot be disclosed, Defendants’ end-users use their VPN services not only to engage in widespread movie piracy, but other outrageous criminal conduct such as harassment, illegal hacking, and murder.
When these crimes become public, Defendants use these tragic incidents as opportunities to boast about their VPN services.”
The attorneys defending Kape Technologies responded to these allegations:
“These allegations are completely irrelevant and serve only to inflame emotions in a misguided attempt to prejudice the Court and the public against the defendants by false association with the non-parties whose conduct is described in these paragraphs.”
You can view official court documentation below:
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Hollywood Companies & Kape Technologies Court Documentation (PDF)
More VPNs Sued by Hollywood
In addition to ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA), Hollywood has targeted numerous other VPN providers in the past.
This is highlighted by TorGuard, LiquidVPN, and VPN.ht.
We have written separate articles for each news story that can be found below.
- TorGuard VPN Lawsuit
- Filmmakers Win Lawsuit Against LiquidVPN
- VPN ht Agrees to Log User Data after Lawsuit
Overall, it seems that the pressure from Hollywood studios against VPN providers will only increase as time goes on.
What do you think of Hollywood companies pursuing legal action against VPNs? Do you think “no log” policies will ever go away?
Leave a Comment Below!
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How dare they point their fingers and call ANYONE a criminal? We’re so sick of Hollywood that we’re getting rid of them. Is there a way to donate to their legal fees for their fight?
There was no way to stop people from using a payphone for privacy (back in the day) nor a burner phone more recently. There was no way to stop people from recording their music onto cassettes nor burning CDs nor downloading music for free from any number of peer-to-peer sharing sites, since Napster. RIAA attacks on end users eventually fizzled. If people want something and don’t want to pay for it, there’s no stopping it. Those who stream illegally would simply just have to wait a few months (only weeks in some cases) for DVD releases anyway before being able to get access for free from a library or cheaply from Netflix. These industries have rooked people for years and continue to do so. This just evens the playing field a little bit.
I think it’s ridiculous Is anything safe now when are these greedy people going to stop
I agree with a previous post that mentioned Thomas Jefferson. Disabling the basic functions of a VPN by government is a step towards making us a socialist controlled state, no matter what you think. No free speech, as everything is open and free to big brother to peruse and isolate those with differing opinions to their common propaganda. Look at Russia for example…
VPN’s, along with Anti-Tracking apps, Ad-Blockers and other measures, are used to protect personal privacy online. Privacy is a basic human right. If some users of VPN’s use them for copyright infringing activities, the studios need to go after the users, not the VPN companies. The VPN companies are no more responsible for the behavior of its users any more than Ford, GM, Toyota, et al are responsible for the users of their vehicles who speed, drive drunk, etc.
Absolutely spot on. The problem is that Hollywood can’t figure out how to circumvent VPN services to get at users, as that is a fundamental principle (anonymity and encryption) of said service. But as you so well said, they are no more responsble than car makers to the erratic behavior of some drivers…What Hollywood is trying to do, in the interest of lost revenues, is take away a fundamental right of each and every individual to have any privacy while using the internet.
I am amazed how many people feel entitled to steal the property rights of others and then complain about their rights when someone attempts to recover their property. Greed and money insults can equally applied to the complainers. But that is the problem today, everyone feels entitled to something that is not theirs without payment.
This is just another factor we can add to the socialist/fascist movement. Thomas Jefferson warned about tyranny !!!!!
I feel completely safe using a VPN for many reasons. This is forcing the general public to dance to the tunes of money hoarding conglomerates and companies. Capitalism, cyber bullying and narcissism at its best.
Hollywood lost money during scamdemic like all small businesses,now bankrupt .Only Amazon,Facebook ,Apple,Verizon,Comcast ,Google,Tech giants made Billions while everyone else went without .Now corrupt Pediwood wants to violate my personal privacy ,all the Giants ,central banks mentioned above use VPNs to do every day businesses and they intend to have access to my personal life .Absolutely Not Acceptable .Net neutrality needs to put back in place . Hollywood needs to get its priority straight They themselves use VPNwhrn doing digital and special effects.This corrupt corporate Greed plan ,and simple .An attempt to invade my personal space is act of violating my personal freedom.
I use my VPN due to sensitive medical records for my patients. It is required by the company who happens to be in California. Not everyone uses VPNs for what they say is piracy.
We got tired of messing with a VPN. Cinema, Kodi, etc are completely unnecessary, IMO. You can get so much good free or cheap legal content anymore. Phone providers offer great promos on both streaming services and internet service. Cheap antennas pick up 50+ channels in my area.
I agree, but I still need my VPN. for privacy concerns overall
You read where the Russians are attacking VPN’s, now Hollywood. How similar, that neither respect nor honor privacy while on line. Guess the Russians, Chinese and now the Hollywood elitist are all working to the same end, eliminate privacy while on line.
The plaintiffs argued that VPN providers “refuse to prevent users from using their services to commit serious illegal acts”. This is the same argument used against gun manufacturers and you see there that has had little to no effect.
This is why the first question you need to ask when choosing a VPN is whether the owners / controllers of that VPN are committed enough to privacy and freedom to “fall on their sword” when threatened by governments or meta-government money conglomerates that they can not refuse or defend themselves against.
There have been many cases of big corporate VPNs giving in to governmental or industry pressure and exposing the privacy of their customers. There have also been a few cases of smaller and more idealistic VPNs going out of business and destroying their servers and records rather than being forced to comply with court orders and governmental demands.
One measure to improve your security is to choose a VPN operated in a country with more respect for privacy and security than the US where politicians are Owned by big media money and the government is so controlled by them as to pass abusive laws such as the DMCA which has been used to prosecute and persecute the scientists, and mathematicians who develop encryption algorithms for enabling persons to commit such heinous crimes as not paying motion picture distributors or BMG every time they watch or listen to media content.
I can only hope that Troy is honest and brave enough to shut down Troypoint.com if he is being coerced to plant spyware on the “rapid app installer” or in the applications it hosts.
Mike,
1. We don’t own, operate, or have any affiliation with any application inside the Rapid App Installer.
2. We have scanned all applications within the Rapid App Installer with VirusTotal to check for viruses/malware.
3. We have never “planted spyware” and never will.
We state this throughout our website.
Thank You!
One way or another l will never pay a subscription for ad supported tv services. Commercial free l may consider. These greedy moguls just won’t quick. I am prepared to due without tv completely.
There are only 2 words to say to these greedy bar stewards and the second one is off?
Right on Lou, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
VPN’s based in the U.S and countries that are reciprocal to the U.S. are not a good idea these days unless you don’t care about corporate America and the U.S government monitoring your online activities.
Correct.. Stay away from the 14 Eyes
VPN companies off nothing more than a secure, anonymous route to the internet. That’s it. They do not offer any illegal content.
The responsibility is on the end user. Not the company providing the service.
It is like saying, (Police) hey we will sue Lamborghini because an owner drove it at 200kmh in a 60kmh speed zone.
Bloody ridiculous.
That’s my take too. How can VPN companies be sued when there are so many people who DON’T use them to download illegal activity?
Spend more time prosecuting and shutting down the illegal services not punishing the majorities that use vpns for privacy and security or the companies that provide that security. Next maybe they should go after the companies that manufacter the equipment that allow illegal content to be viewed. Ban Amazon Firetv sticks (and similar devices) then TVs and VPNs and you’ve solved the problem.
Spot on…which is why these lawsuits are doomed to fail.
I do not stream illegal content, so why is it Hollywoods business if I want to protect myself from the bad guys? They seem to think everything revolves around them. It doesn’t!
Frustrating that Hollywood is now targeting VPN’s. I already get to much spam on IM, email, phone calls etc. If i log in to my bank account without a VPN and account is hacked, is Hollywood going to reimburse my NO VPN loss?
What I do online is my business and mine alone. No Hellywoods, no the govt’s, not the internet provider and certainly not the VPN provider. My privacy is mine and mine alone. When it gets into others hands, no matter what the process, they will sell it like the idiots they are…
My VPN is on 24 seven, Im not always streaming. My privacy and security is no one elses business. Turning over logs and info is a direct violation of my privacy and security. Nothing else should even have to be said. If the government takes that away it will be time to replace the government.
Exactly. We are entitled to our data privacy and it is protected by law.
Amen
I couldn’t have said it any better, The government keeps picking away at our right to privacy, their heads get over sized with their own self importance. One of the least important jobs viewed by the public are politicians.
What they are actually saying to a court is, “they are being ripped off and, although the VPN companies are not responsible, they may know something about it, so we need to see their private files, all of them, and then we will decide if this is true” This is against the rights of privacy, even more so to individuals from outside of the USA. It gives Hollywood? access to people’s personal information, including bank accounts, phone numbers etc. It will give movie studios access to information that even any Government would be allowed hold. This is worrying for individuals civil liberties
My VPN is on 24 seven, Im not always streaming. My privacy and security is no one elses business. Turning over logs and info is a direct violation of my privacy and security. Nothing else should even have to be said. If the government takes that away it will be time to replace the government.
Move out of the US
U.S. Court Jurisdiction
European courts will not recognize U.S. judgments if the U.S. court lacked jurisdiction. Special attention needs to be paid to the fact that for purposes of recognizing foreign judgments, jurisdiction must be determined by the law of the European country, not by U.S. law. For instance, under the so-called “mirror-image principle,” German law projects its own jurisdictional rules on the foreign court, which is then treated as having international jurisdiction if a German court would have had jurisdiction had the situation been reversed.
Under the Hague Choice of Court Convention, concluded in June 2005, signatories would recognize and enforce the judgments of other signatory countries when those judgments follow valid “choice of court agreements.” This convention would enforce choice of court provisions and resulting judgments, much as the new York Convention does with arbitration clauses and subsequent arbitral awards. The Convention, however, will not go into effect until at least two countries have ratified it. Thus far, only Mexico has done so.
Proper Service
European courts also frequently deny enforcement of U.S. judgments because of improper service of process. The defendant cannot assert this defense in the European court if it in any way engaged in the U.S. lawsuit. Consequently, this issue usually arises when trying to enforce a default judgment. Proper service usually requires service to have been in accordance with the laws of the European country, and, in most instances, pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters of November 15, 1965, as well.
Article 2 of the Hague Convention calls on each country to designate a central authority to receive service requests from other countries. Article 5 provides that the central authority shall itself render service or have the document served by an appropriate agency pursuant to the country’s own service of process laws or by a particular method requested by the applicant.
It is essential to serve the right person with authority to accept such service, but it is equally important to provide the defendant with a translation of the complaint and summons. Failing to translate the court documents would, in most Hague Convention signatory countries, preclude a finding of proper service, even where a defendant had ample notice of the lawsuit. We see this requirement neglected at least as often as it is followed.
Public Policy
European countries will not recognize foreign judgments where doing so cannot be reconciled with their own laws. Enforcement ability will be denied if major principles, such as the violation of fundamental rights or fundamental principles of local civil procedure or the like, were disregarded by the foreign court that granted the judgment.
Punitive and treble damage awards are generally regarded as excessive and contrary to the public policy of most European countries, and these portions of a judgment almost always should be removed from the U.S. judgment before taking it to Europe for recognition and enforcement. Our experience is that the U.S. federal courts are quite willing to give a new judgment with these damages removed, so as to make their judgment more likely to be enforced overseas.
Conclusion
Getting U.S. judgments recognized and enforced in European courts is possible, but only if the U.S. litigation is handled from its inception with an eye towards European enforceability. Before filing suit here in the United States, it is critical to know the requirements for judgment recognition in the particular European country in which the judgment will eventually need to be recognized and enforced.
If you use a VPN that originates in another country outside of USA, good luck to to Hollywood companies with trying to sue that company, where you have NO jurisdiction! Like trying to sue Yahoo for providing us with internet! GOOD LUCK
Well if these Hollywood types are suing VPN providers, they are asking that VPN providers make their client information and streaming habits public. This goes directly against what a VPN is. I would also submit that they then must be providing their own information and streaming and internet use public as I am sure they all use a VPN to protect against hacking and keep information on where they HIDE their millions from the government. Ok Hollywood, you first!!!
No doubt another way our own government is using the Hollywood bleebs to get around our privacy protections.
I’m Canadian. I use a VPN so I can subscribe and PAY for Paramount +, Hulu, and others that AREN’T AVAILABLE in Canada. I also pay for a British service. Are these movie companies aware of this? I must not be the only person that does this. I also use my VPN for privacy on public networks.
Also, I DETEST going to the theatre. I’d happily pay for a “digital admission” ticket. I’ve a 75″ TV and impressive sound system. I’d like to be able to control the volume, hit pause, or watch the movie on MY schedule, not some cineplex.
If these companies would simply COMPETE, then they wouldn’t need to sue a VPN.
Also, for people that stream through third party apps? Most likely, they wouldn’t have watched it ANYWAY from behind a paywall.
In other words… DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO VPNs HOSTED IN THE U.S.!!!
You know it’s no surprise to see this happening. The very people that we elected to protect us and provide a voice for us are slowly but surely allowing our rights to be taken away little by little. Rights history tells us that once they’re gone will never be gotten back again. It’s a shame to see what so many fought and died for taken away by so few, many of which never wore a uniform. I proudly wore a uniform and am almost daily disgusted by those in Washington that have forgotten what their job is, those very same people I protected so that they could betray us all like this. I think it’s time to replace them all with people that will actually do the job we sent them there to do. I could say more but you all know what I’m talking about already, don’t you?
VPN’s are about privacy, and Hollywood is like a narcissist and makes the VPN all about themselves. These filthy rich elitists want to make sure they make millions and billions more! If they want more take home income, then I suggest they stop paying mega-millions to the actors as I think they what they get paid is line gluttony… just look at their sprawling gated/guarded castles of lavish lushness! These actors and Hollywood studios get away with murder and they want to sue the VPN’s over protecting their money interests and against the common man. I have a “negative” level of pity for them!
VPN’s are used for good and bad purposes. The good being identity protection when surfing the internet, banking online or any legal activity done online. While I agree Hollywood is greedy, they do have a right to make a profit on their goods. It’s the American way. It’s called CAPITALISM not Communism. It’s what America is founded on, GREED! When a VPN is used to pirate movies, the Hollywood movie producers are being ripped off. You can’t walk into a store and walk out with a product without paying. It’s the same principle. You cannot use a good or service produced by someone without compensating them. Do I want the movie producers to win their case? NO! But it is the society we live in. If you feel you have been wronged by someone, you have the right to sue.
Everybody should tell Hollywood if they impose on our freedom,the people will tell Hollywood where to shove it and boycott films and when the rich executives have no more cash cows they’ll have to slum it.up yours
THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT BIG BROTHER IS STILL WATCHING AFTER ALL THE YEARS. WHAT CAN YOU DO BUT VOTE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, WHY WE STILL HAVE A DEMOCRACY………………. SAXWATKINS
you can not be more right
All major companies use VPNs for online privacy and security. In a world where cybercrime is more prevalent than ever, everyone should use one. Also to keep companies like media companies, retailers, etc. from being able to buy your tracking habits and flood you with useless spam. Technically, leaving your email here could trigger that… Best to get a VPN outside of 14 eyes, and can’t be sued by these groups, and choose the correct countries in your VPN. Why not just next sue the internet providers, because of illegal activity, or Bitcoin, Tor, or countries that print money that can’t be traced. I know, sounds stupid, doesn’t it? Take away freedoms, and security of legitimate users, because of a small minority.
Spot on, Bob!
Then they need to pay us for telling others how good movies and shows are. We give them free advertisements by word of mouth.
Usa. The land of lawsuits. People will sue others for just about anything. The inflammatory opening statement by Holywood against Kate, is just ridiculous. This is about illegal streaming and they state that the vpn is used for murder etc! Such hyperbole and attention grabbing statements to prejudice a lawsuit!!!. It’s all about the money!!!
Pure greed from companies who have too much power in politics!!!
These mega companies have ripped off the worlds public for far too long with their pricing structure for services.
I like my privacy when I browse and really don’t like it when people have a need to know where I am.
VPN’s are used for many reasons ensuring privacy for any transactions.
I use my VPN for security and privacy these our my rights that Hollywood is messing with . Hollywood is just not only greedy but pier hungry they think because they have money they can tule over us and make us there slaves. Hollywood just need to get there head out of there own ass. GREED GREED GHAT ITS ALL ABOUT.
Spot on with your comments. The 1% with all the power and greed. People have had enough of the pure driven greed and control by these mega companies that control politicians and the judiciary.
VPN’s are used for many reasons. They insure privacy for any transactions.
Typical rich/powerful people afraid of losing their lifestyle. Exactly like some politicians you see all the time. Hasty decisions being made without all the facts to support them.
So true my friend its about time we had a revolution and started again the system is so unfair in every country
You got that right. Just look at the Government pushing electric cars. The charging of these cars will bring down the Electric grids and the cost of charging would be the same cost as buying gasoline. Try getting new batteries for these cars. The state of Virginia to register an electric car is $650.00. My last point is how many middleclass people can afford to spend $60K plus on a car.
Not to mention how fast these batteries will burn out and just be dumped near our ecological surroundings any monkey and baby understands that bad chemicals leeching into our earth, aquifers farmland will have far more devastating effects just as bad as one of the most corrupt countries in the world Canada where a bank can discriminate against you steal money from front line employees hours and their clients – pay to finally get out of debt when they keep their backdoor garbage systems wide open to claim “non accountability” those same backdoors are only there for them to high mercs to corrupt user systems steal money, legal evidence and proof against them then frame or simply say “what paid debt you now owe double we never received payments then have anyone they want gitmoed, credit reporting like Transunion will refuse to remove internally obvious fraud even when backups of proof they robbed you had you jailed by corrupt authorities at gun point when trying to give evidence than half a dozen “regulators” their OBSIs do notning and get paid billions to look away or harass you stalk you and make death threats or attempts on your life while losing every single class action several times a year which they predicate on the fact most people not only do not have the money to pay for legal council but drag out the court cases for years so even if you win your 200K back and avoid getting gangstalked you still have to pay a million. There are dozens that do this namely CIBC one if the most corrupt financiail institutions in the world who steal tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars daily from Seniors and disabled “clients” (marks) because sure a few might realize they suddenly have no money and an NSF + penalties because their living bills never go through but the vast majority will be confused and their families wont believe them because of assumed dementia, OCD, insomnia or plain forgetfulness are clearly the issue a bank making 20 billion a year federally backed clearly would “never be allowed to get away with nor do AnY wRonG!l” and even if a law firm out of 80 could take the case they would assume the same and extort the victims well over anything they could afford an not a single person would even look at their smoking gun proof or wonder why these banks have lost every class action includng ones matching the M.O.
Then if you are lucky enough to even file in a class suit win, the bank managment, executives boards walk away laughing in 4th mansions and 40 foot yacht because of course THEY never personally get punished for the theft they orchestrated and are sheilded by the banking insitutions legal loopholes their inurance pays out 500 million and then tax payers foot the federal insurance bill while these mass fraudulent. extortionists, death-threatening, illegal wage garnashing career and reputation ruining conspirators who toss kick backs to judges, politicians and all levels of scum-sucking rico warranting back-births get away with it every. Single. Time – then freeze the accounts of the victims take all the winnings they received and the public scratch their heads and say “oh well, that can never happen to me.” Just wait. Or maybe look up the thousands of cases and millions of victims stories online who are honest families with their small businesses decimated for it to happen all over again the next month..
Even if they win these lawsuits, people will figure out other ways of streaming content for free. Cat and mouse game. I’m not worried.
I value my privacy and security whilst online, and abhor the actions of profiteers whatever they are, in trying to remove or undermine my freedoms.
And that’s why I don’t use a vpn
Just another form of communism in America by film makers who really have no regard for the general public by movies they produce other than to enrich themselves in everyway and form!!!
You seem to fail to grasp the concept of Communism. It is Capitalisism in which everyone gets what they can, feeding themselves first, before leaving scraps for anyone else.
But generally, this latest news is going to be an abuse of civil liberty. Now that you can kick off about.
I think this is a bad deal for the honest people I use mine for banking and others.
It’s Ok for all your privacy to be open for every crook to steal But don’t you dare watch a movie for free.
VPN’s are used by many for day to day privacy and security. It’s a bit like sueing the polce for patrolling the streets!!!