Artificial intelligence is becoming a cornerstone of modern technology, with applications ranging from customer service automation to national security. Now, AI is making its mark in copyright protection, offering innovative ways to combat piracy more effectively than ever before.
WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement Highlights AI in Copyright Protection
Last week, during a meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Advisory Committee on Enforcement, AI-powered anti-piracy solutions took center stage. One of the standout presentations came from Portuguese company NOS Technology, which unveiled its sophisticated AI-driven copyright protection tool.
This innovative system is designed to monitor and respond to piracy incidents in real-time, leveraging advanced digital technologies such as generative AI, blockchain, and machine learning. However, despite its ambitious claims, specific details on its operation remain limited.
AI-Powered Piracy Detection and Blocking
Pedro Bravo, NOS Technology’s Head of Content Protection, introduced the AI anti-piracy toolkit, emphasizing the growing complexity of digital piracy. According to Bravo, traditional manual monitoring methods are no longer sufficient, and AI is essential for scaling enforcement efforts.
“These solutions harness AI, generative AI, machine learning, blockchain, and automation to detect, confirm, and respond to piracy incidents in real time, protecting IP at every stage,” Bravo explained.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the tool is its ability to automatically issue takedown requests and block pirated streams. While AI-driven takedown systems are not new, integrating these capabilities directly with internet service providers (ISPs) represents a significant step forward.
Direct ISP-Level Blocking
NOS Technology’s AI-powered tool appears to have a direct API connection with ISPs, allowing real-time blocking of pirated content at the domain or IP level. This method is already in use in Portugal, where rights holders can request dynamic site blocking via administrative and legal procedures.
A small but crucial footnote in NOS Technology’s presentation revealed how the tool fits into Portugal’s site-blocking framework:
“Administrative and Legal procedures in Portugal allow IP rights owners to request takedowns in real-time or permanently by Domain or IP. The anti-piracy tool detects, validates, and sends an order to a blocking gateway that connects through API to the ISP.”
This system appears to eliminate human intervention, enabling near-instant blocking of unauthorized content.
Hollywood’s Interest in AI-Based Copyright Enforcement
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a key advocate for site-blocking measures worldwide, has also expressed interest in AI-driven solutions. At the same WIPO session, MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple highlighted the role of automated enforcement in modern copyright protection.
According to Temple, automated site-blocking solutions are essential in the rapidly evolving piracy landscape. These systems continuously monitor DNS servers and IP addresses for infringing content and relay updates to ISPs for immediate action.
“Automated communication systems have been put in place between rightsholders and ISPs that allow the first ones to swiftly communicate the updated online locations that should be blocked, subject to a dynamic court order or under the supervision of competent authorities,” Temple stated.
Although NOS Technology explicitly markets its system as AI-powered, the extent to which artificial intelligence is involved in the blocking process remains unclear. Nonetheless, the growing reliance on automation in copyright enforcement signals a shift toward more proactive, technology-driven solutions.
The Future of AI in Piracy and Copyright Protection
As AI continues to advance, both copyright holders and digital pirates will find ways to leverage its capabilities. While AI-driven enforcement tools can detect and block pirated content more efficiently, those engaging in piracy are likely to develop countermeasures.
The question remains: will AI be able to outpace digital piracy, or will it simply escalate the ongoing battle? Regardless of the answer, one thing is certain—AI is now a key player in the fight against online piracy.
