Here are the ‘Most Notorious Piracy Threats’ from 2024

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has published its 2024 “Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets.”

This annual list identifies websites and services associated with piracy and counterfeiting activities.

The report, which reflects feedback from copyright industry groups like the RIAA and MPA, aims to raise awareness and encourage action from platform operators and foreign authorities.

The USTR report underscores the complexity of piracy, which extends beyond traditional torrent or streaming websites.

Various intermediaries—such as domain registrars, hosting providers, payment processors, and even search engines—contribute to this ecosystem. While many of these entities were flagged in recommendations, only a few appear in the final review.

Familiar Names on the List

Many platforms listed in the 2024 report are long-standing participants in piracy. Torrent sites like The Pirate Bay, 1337x, RuTracker, TorrentGalaxy, and YTS remain staples, having featured on these lists for over a decade.

Similarly, file-hosting services such as Krakenfiles, Rapidgator, and Savefrom retain their spots.

E-commerce platforms, including Baidu Wangpan, DHgate, and Shopee, also remain on the list, showing little change from prior years despite some positive industry developments.

New Entrants in 2024

This year, several new names have surfaced. Among video game piracy platforms, Fitgirl-Repacks and Unknowncheats were highlighted.

These additions came after the Entertainment Software Association flagged them for distributing unauthorized and pirated games.

In the streaming and video sectors, Y2Mate—a streamripper replacing SSYouTube—earned a mention, as did two streaming platforms, MagisTV and Hianime. Virtual Systems, a hosting provider, also made its debut appearance.

MPA’s List of Priority Services for 2024

Shown below are some of the most well-known options featured in the USTR’s report.

Torrent Sites

• 1337X
• RuTracker
• The Pirate Bay
• TorrentGalaxy
• YTS.mx

Streaming /IPTV

• BestBuyIPTV
• Aniwatch
• FMovies
• Cuevana3
• GenIPTV
• Hianime
• MagisTV
• VegaMovies

File-Hosting/Cyberlockers

• 1fichier
• Krakenfiles
• Rapidgator
• Savefrom

Piracy as a Service (PaaS)

• 2embed
• Streamtape
• WHMCS Smarters

You can view the complete list of services in the MPA’s letter to the USTR (PDF).

Success Stories in Combating Piracy

The USTR celebrated notable victories in anti-piracy efforts over the past year. Among these, the Fmovies takedown stood out.

Vietnamese authorities, in collaboration with U.S. agencies and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), dismantled the site and its affiliates.

Additional achievements included Vietnam’s prosecution of BestBuyIPTV’s operator, Brazil’s ongoing “Operation 404,” and Italy’s “Operation Taken Down.”

Challenges Persist: Cuevana’s Story

Cuevana, a streaming site with a long history of reappearing under new domains, has drawn attention for its recent actions.

While the platform announced plans to shut down and transfer its domains, the closure has yet to materialize.

Cuevana claims the ACE has not responded to its outreach, leaving the site operational.

This case highlights the challenges of enforcing shutdowns against platforms that are adept at evading takedown efforts.

Final Thoughts

The USTR’s 2024 list serves as both a spotlight on persistent piracy threats and raising awareness of these platforms.

However, the enduring presence of familiar names shows the ongoing battle against piracy is far from over.

For a complete overview, view the full report from the USTR (PDF) and the report from TorrentFreak.

We want to know your thoughts on this story. What do you think about the USTR’s Notorious Markets Report for 2024? Let us know in the comment section below!

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