MediaStalker: The Greek company fighting "pirated" TV content
A few weeks ago, the information was published in the Gazzetta that the EDPPI took down IPTV servers that offered illegal content of COMSOTE TV and Nova and on the occasion of this development we had a first communication with MediaStalker , one of the companies that helps towards this direction with its technology. Its representatives informed us that following complaints from subscription channels, access to over 500 domains used by illegal "TV Boxes" services has already been blocked, while after independent actions by the same subscribers, more than double the number of corresponding IPs has been deleted .
Mediastalker, having developed its own advanced artificial intelligence software, adapted to anti-piracy of audiovisual works, acting quietly and efficiently in the background, restores media content of any form whose rights belong to its customers. Market executives say that the company has worked wonders in the field of on-demand content and is responsible for the huge push of the last years, the legendary companies of domestic cinema. But also in Live content, the numbers are impressive. In the last year - and speaking only for Greece - the company on behalf of both major subscription channels has "downloaded" over 500,000 illegal live streams on platforms, social networks and other websites, while it has managed to completely delete more than 1,000 domains, blocking access to over 1 million viewers in closed groups of illegal content watchers.
On the occasion of the above, we spoke with Dimitris Drandakis (Co-Founder, CTO) and Manos Rakintzakis (Co-Founder, Sales Partner) about the matter in more detail.
How exactly does the Mediastalker platform work?
Mediastalker's software platform is developed with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) technologies so that both core and supporting algorithms are enhanced in real time. Our customers supply us with the list of material they wish to be protected from illegal uploading and sharing on the internet. That's all! From there, our technology takes over. Practically, our system bypasses heavy and complex processes in order to cross the hardware and through our algorithms the verification is achieved and then the takedown actions are initiated. Finally, everything is done with absolute transparency. Through access to digital tools, every owner or distributor of audiovisual material has real-time information with dynamic reports, data and statistics regarding the protection of their material.
What is the most important advantage that Mediastalker has over the competition?
In fact there are many points of our superiority which are basically due to our technology. However, what we would emphasize more strongly as separate and unique, is in general the "Plug n' Play" model of services to our customers. Literally, as long as we work with a client, anywhere in the world and on any content, absolutely no resource commitment of any kind is required on their part.
Do you have any numbers on what you have effectively dealt with to date?
To date, and through our systems, more than 200 million units of material have been processed for all the markets in which we operate. Of these, 22 million units were ultimately promoted to a second level of identification, where approximately 2.6 million (~12%) were confirmed to be illegally posted material from our customers. The vast majority (> 94%) of these illegal posts were deleted, thus restoring the value of each content unit.
How big is the problem with content piracy in Greece?
Estimates of the exact numbers differ, but all agree that there is a serious problem. From the data we process, we see a stronger public interest in services from legal entertainment sources today, compared to 2-3 years ago. The Lockdown period has certainly played a major role in this looming change. Today it is estimated that for every legal subscription there is at least 1 other illegal source active or available. The bulk is directed towards online - free content browsing (about 70%), while the rest have some form of illegal subscription service.
What is the most common way of sharing content you face in the fight against piracy?
The vast majority of audiovisual content is available for viewing via online streaming on various digital platforms, through specialized websites and mobile phone applications. The vast majority of material is trafficked illegally through the world's most popular applications that we all use every day. Recently, access to content through various IPTV service packages, which are an evolution of the previous generation of illegal subscription services, has been steadily gaining ground.
Why do we see that despite the many efforts of subscription platforms and Greek channels, piracy continues to be at such a high rate in our country? And even with solutions reminiscent of rich subscription packages, since they also offer On Demand movies and series in addition to live channels!
There was a clear lack of information regarding the criminality of intellectual property infringement, while until recently there was almost no organized effort to deal with the problem on the part of the State both at the level of the country and at the level of European institutions. In addition, the speed with which technology evolves at both the network and application level is constantly updating ways, methods and trends in content trafficking. Throwing into the equation the fact that rights holders were not informed about the possibility of "securing" their content as an asset, after all before Mediastalker there were no relevant solutions, there was enough room for illegal ways of distributing content of various levels to develop. However, from the moment Mediastalker appeared, demonstrated the problem, while also offering solutions, gaining the trust of the people in the field, the protection of audiovisual material became a priority for the entire market.
What kind of content do you see being shared the most illegally? Sports? Rows?
In terms of traffic, it is the "live" sports content that is trafficked in larger volumes by an overwhelming margin. However, Greek and foreign series, as well as movies are shared equally and in general, there are very few assets that will not be found illegally available on some digital site.
Where are we in dealing with piracy in relation to the rest of the world? Are there any indications of how effectively the issue is being dealt with in our country?
There used to be a stereotype that in Greece we tend towards anything illegal, in order to avoid paying the price or to pay a lower price for the product or service we wish to receive. Even if there was some suspicion or grain of truth in this, it is no longer the case for certain. We don't say it, the European Intellectual Property Observatory (EUIPO) says it, which in the annual surveys it publishes, shows the Greek public making leaps in recent years and indeed from the last positions in terms of the general perception and intention to consume illegally of uploaded audiovisual material (films, series, sports, music, etc.), is now above the European average, showing a clear shift and preference for legal channels digital and television entertainment. The fact that in the same period Mediastalker has also appeared on the horizon is not just a coincidence.
How quickly can your platform detect a new website or service that is distributing pirated content?
One of the key strengths of our model is the constant search for new trends in the sharing and consumption of pirated content. Our systems immediately detect new locations and depending on the quantitative and qualitative findings based on the parameters, automatically create the corresponding process or send it to an Agent for investigation.
Has the legal process to deal with the problem immediately changed/improved at all?
Actually. The establishment of the Management Committee for Internet Infringement of Intellectual Property (EDPPI), the Organization of Intellectual Property (OPI) following the relevant European Directives, has covered an important legal gap that existed in order for ISPs (telecommunications providers in practice) to proceed to cut off access to websites that are proven to traffic in illegal audiovisual content. In the same direction and the recent passing in Parliament of the provision for Dynamic Blocking. Although the root of the problem is not directly affected, the beginning has been made and the will and the tools are now there, including our technology, so that through Legaltech processes, we can be led to a new safer environment, where the intellect and the spectacle they will enjoy greater protection, durability over time, maintaining both their economic and cultural value.
How do you think the piracy phenomenon will evolve in the near future?
We are largely sailing in uncharted waters. The ways of illegal distribution of entertainment audiovisual content, with an emphasis on the first component "visual", are expanding. All this happens very quickly. Don't go far. 5G is expanding all over the world, and the entire high-tech industry has focused on applications and peripherals that will be able to take advantage of these capabilities. The new horizons that are opening up also hide serious threats, as a live real-time or on-demand broadcast of content will be just a matter of a simple voice command from an average user. Coupled with the revolution coming full speed ahead at the mercy of the metaverse, in which many real-life data will acquire a digital equivalent, things are not looking too optimistic. In this coming upheaval, Mediastalker intends to play an important role on the side of content creators and copyright holders by extending an effective shield of protection.