Warner Bros. has forced GitHub to remove the well-known M3U playlist “IPTV-org,” in a major move against unapproved streaming.
Targeting a page that purportedly connected to Warner networks like HBO and Cartoon Network, the request was quickly complied with by the site’s owners.
Key Takeaways
- Targeted Action: Rather than the complete GitHub website, Warner Bros. asked for the removal of certain infringements.
- Quick Compliance: In order to prevent a total takedown, the site operators swiftly deleted all Warner Bros. content.
- Ongoing Battle: The difficulties in upholding copyright in the digital era are brought to light by this incident.
The Rise of M3U Files in IPTV
With more than 25 years of existence, the M3U file format was first used to link to media files that could be streamed for internet radio.
It has experienced a resurgence in popularity as a video streaming tool in recent years. Although the format is neutral in and of itself, more and more IPTV streams—many of which are redistributed without the required permission—are shared using it.
IPTV-org GitHub Repository Under Scrutiny
iptv-org.github.io is one of the biggest GitHub Pages repositories of IPTV links. This website features over 37,000 channels and receives about a million visits each month.
Major copyright holders like Warner Bros. have taken notice of the existence of illegal content, even though not all streams are violating copyright laws.
Since no copy is made on their site, the site’s maintainers contend that linking to M3U playlists does not directly violate copyright.
Instead, they advise that rights holders take legal action against the companies that are hosting the files. This defense, meanwhile, is shaky because torrent sites have lost legal battles using comparable defenses in the past.
Warner Bros. Takes Action
Warner Bros. sent GitHub a takedown request via its anti-piracy partner MarkScan. The notification stated that iptv-org.github.io was participating in copyright piracy by offering unapproved streams of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels, such as HBO and Cartoon Network.
In response, GitHub offered the site administrators one business day to resolve the issue. The site’s maintainers complied by eliminating all WBD content. By acting quickly, the possibility of the entire website being taken down was reduced.
The Aftermath of the Takedown
Some non-Warner Bros. links were removed during the first, overly extensive self-administered takedown, but they were later added back. In spite of this, the site’s prompt reaction allowed it to continue operating as usual. iptv-org.github.io is still up and running as of this writing, although the Warner Bros. content has been removed.
Warner Bros.’ targeted strategy, which concentrated only on the illegal content and ignored the rest of the website, worked well. With this precise takedown, users can still access the platform’s authorized content even after illegal streams are eliminated.
The full legal disclaimer from IPTV-org is displayed in the picture below.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict between unapproved streaming platforms and content creators is brought to light by this incident. Since M3U files muddy the lines between direct infringement and other uses, they pose a serious threat to copyright enforcement when used for IPTV streaming.
See the TorrentFreak report for further information on this story.
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About The Author
Sorin
Sorin has worked in technology for 15 years and is an authority on Internet security. 2009 saw the launch of sustainableiptv.com, a website that offers news, reviews, and tutorials on home technology with an emphasis on cord-cutting. Since he modified the original Xbox in 2002 and installed XBMC (now Kodi) so he could stream movies on his home network, Troy has enjoyed this pastime.