Rojadirecta Ordered to Pay $33 Million in Piracy Case

The popular sports piracy platform ‘Rojadirecta’ was ordered to to pay $33 million by Spain’s Supreme Court.

The End of an Era for Rojadirecta

Since its debut in 2005, Rojadirecta became synonymous with free access to sports streams, offering millions of fans a way to watch live matches without pay-TV fees.

However, after years of legal battles with rights holders like Mediapro, the Spanish site is facing its largest penalty yet—a $33 million judgment against its operator, Igor Seoane, and his company, Puerto 80 Projects SL.

This significant legal victory for Mediapro marks a turning point in the fight against online piracy.

Early Legal Wins and Setbacks

Rojadirecta faced its first legal challenges in 2007. Despite allegations of copyright infringement, the platform claimed to operate legally under Spanish law.

Courts initially backed Rojadirecta, with rulings in 2009 dismissing claims by rightsholders.

However, a shift in tactics saw U.S. authorities briefly seize Rojadirecta’s domains at the behest of rightsholders.

Although these were later returned, mounting legal pressures signaled the start of more challenging battles ahead.

Mediapro’s Case and Supreme Court Decision

In 2016, Mediapro filed a lawsuit claiming Rojadirecta violated intellectual property rights by linking to unauthorized sports streams.

The court ruled in favor of Mediapro, barring Rojadirecta from operating within Spain. Despite losing its appeal in 2018, Mediapro was dissatisfied with the lack of personal accountability for Seoane.

That changed in 2022 when Spain’s Supreme Court held both Seoane and Puerto 80 jointly liable.

On December 15, 2023, the Commercial Court of A Coruña ordered the pair to pay €31.6 million ($33 million) in damages, with €15.6 million ($16.3 million) being a joint responsibility.

Financial and Criminal Consequences

The penalty represents the estimated cost of legally licensing the sports content Rojadirecta streamed during the 2014/2015 football season. While Puerto 80 and Seoane were ordered to pay, the repercussions extend beyond financial damages.

Mediapro and LaLiga are also pursuing criminal charges, alleging Seoane continues to profit from illegal streams. Prosecutors seek up to six years of imprisonment and demand a bond of €4.15 million ($4.4 million) for future liabilities.

Reports indicate that Rojadirecta remains profitable outside Spain, with at least one account generating €11 million in 2022.

Final Thoughts & Legacy of Rojadirecta

What began as a solution for a young Seoane to watch his favorite football team turned into a platform that challenged the boundaries of copyright law.

Described as a “Robin Hood” by some, Seoane’s creation offered fans free access to content often locked behind expensive paywalls.

Today, however, Rojadirecta’s legacy is marred by legal defeats and escalating penalties. As the fight against piracy intensifies, this judgment may serve as a warning to other platforms operating in the gray areas of the law.

For more information on this story, refer to the story from ABC Society and the report from TorrentFreak.

We want to know your thoughts on this story. What do you think about Rojadirecta owing $33M in piracy damages? Let us know in the comment section below!

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