U.S. federal authorities recently seized three major internet domains registered in the United States that were being used to illegally distribute copyrighted content from Bulgaria. The operation, supported by international law enforcement, targeted sites responsible for millions of unauthorized downloads of films, television shows, and video games.
The Justice Department announced the seizure of zamunda.net, arenabg.com, and zelka.org following an investigation into large-scale digital piracy. These platforms were among the most popular websites in Bulgaria, with one frequently ranking in the country’s top ten most-visited domains. Because of the massive amount of traffic these sites attracted, officials believe the operators generated significant revenue through advertising while hosting thousands of stolen works.
Federal officials noted that the majority of the copyrighted material distributed through these domains belonged to American companies. The scale of the infringement was vast, with tens of millions of visitors accessing the sites annually. Estimates suggest the total retail value of the illegally shared content reached millions of dollars, causing substantial economic harm to the rightful owners of the intellectual property.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. government, Bulgarian law enforcement, and Europol. Visitors attempting to access the seized domains are now met with a digital banner notifying them that the sites are in government custody. This notice serves as a formal warning that copyright infringement is a federal crime punishable by fines and imprisonment.
This crackdown is part of a broader global initiative to dismantle high-traffic piracy networks and protect digital assets. Recent enforcement actions have also targeted sports streaming platforms and various video game piracy sites. These efforts have become increasingly sophisticated, with investigators now tracking tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency transactions linked to the illegal distribution of digital media.
Source: Department Of Justice Seizes Domains Used By Bulgarian Piracy Websites