What do we mean by the term “piracy”?
Piracy – a term commonly used to describe the infringement of copyright and related rights — refers to the reproduction, distribution, sale, or communication to the public of unauthorized copies or transmissions of copyright-protected material, in both physical and digital form.
Copyright piracy manifests in various forms and primarily concerns the fields of music, audiovisual works, computer programs, publications, broadcasting, as well as sports and other live events, the illegal transmission of which is a particularly growing phenomenon.
Why does piracy as a phenomenon concern global economies?
Piracy of works or subject matter protected by copyright constitutes a global phenomenon that has reached alarming proportions.
The wide availability of illegal streaming services, IPTV platforms, applications distributing unauthorized content, as well as stream-ripping tools and cyberlockers, have significantly contributed to the spread of piracy practices in the digital age.
Of particular concern is the growing piracy of sports and other live events through illegal IPTV services and real-time streaming platforms, which severely undermines the funding of sports and cultural institutions.
At the same time, the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence creates new forms of reproduction and exploitation of protected content, posing additional challenges for the protection of copyright and related rights.
Due to the high value of intellectual property rights, their infringement constitutes a lucrative criminal activity that causes significant harm to creators, rights holders, and the economy at large.
The EUIPO’s 2020 Status Report on IPR Infringement states that the presence of counterfeit and pirated goods in the market results in annual revenue losses for EU member state governments — due to reduced direct and indirect tax revenues and unpaid social security contributions by illegal manufacturers — amounting to €15 billion per year.
The most recent EUIPO study on online copyright infringement (2024), analyzing data for the period 2017–2023, confirms that the phenomenon remains widespread, recording among other findings a 10% increase in visits to pirate IPTV platforms.
According to the European Commission’s Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List 2025, an upward trend in piracy has been observed and documented, with several studies highlighting its serious negative economic impact on creative industries.
These studies reveal trends in online piracy and audience engagement, with the largest increase found in the software sector, followed by the music sector.
What are the consequences of the piracy phenomenon?
In summary, the consequences of piracy include the following:
- Threat to consumer protection
- Risks to users’ digital security (exposure to malware, online fraud, and data theft through pirate websites and applications)
- Loss of revenue due to reduced VAT and customs duty collection
- Job losses
- Inability to develop the relevant cultural — and other — industries (risk of diminishing cultural goods due to lack of incentives)
- Reduced foreign investment
- Inability to enforce relevant laws and fulfill international obligations
- Damage to the country’s international standing and reputation
1. Legal framework and relative material
- Law 4481/2017
- Provisions of Law 2121/1993 (a. 63 – 66Δ)
- TRIPS Treaty (law 2290/1995)
- L. 4155/2013 (a. 40)
- Ministerial Order 10100/D3B/4020 for the imposition of the administrative fine
- Presidential Decree 131/2003 (art. 11 – 13) Integration of Directive for the Electronic Commerce 2000/31)
- Regulation 1383/2003 concerning customs action
- Regulation 1891/2004 concerning customs action
- Law 2472/1997 The protection of individual from the processing of personal data.
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic ans Social Committee: Trade, growth and intellectual property – Strategy for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries (COM(2014) 389 final).
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic ans Social Committee: Towards a renewed consensus on the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: An EU Action Plan (COM(2014) 392 final).
- Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee – Enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market.
- Council resolution of 25 September 2008 on a comprehensive European anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy plan – 25.09.2008 (2008/C 253/01)
- Council Resolution of 1 March 2010 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market (2010/C 56/01).
- European Parliament Resolution of 22 September 2010 on enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market (2009/2178(INI)).
- Manual for lodging of applications for customs action
2. Committee for the Notification of Copyright and Related Rights Infringement on the Internet (ΕDPPI)
Committee for the Notification of Copyright and Related Rights Infringement on the Internet (ΕDPPI)
3. Statistic Data
Enforcement Authorities
- Courts
- Comparative charts for the period 2009 – 2020
- 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
NOTE:
We inform you that, starting from 2023, the HCO will no longer be publishing statistical data regarding the decisions of Greek courts related to cases about copyright and related rights infringement (see Law 21221/1993 and Law 4481/2017).
This development comes as a result of the HCO’s and the Greek courts’ compliance to legislation about personal data protection and also of the significant reduction of the amount of original data that is made available to the HCO, which is a consequence, among other reasons, of the limitation of the selling of digital discs with audio and audiovisual content, by street vendors. - Cyber Crime Unit
4. Studies
- 2024 – EUIPO Observatory: APPS & APP STORES – Challenges and good practices to prevent the use of apps and app stores for IP infringement activities
The Report analyzes the misuse of apps and app stores for IPR infringing activities, the challenges it raises, and best practices to address them. The goal is to provide a better understanding of their respective roles in the application system and how misuse of their services can be addressed. - 2024 – Euipo Observatory: Research on business models infringing Intellectual Property
The research focuses on app-related intellectual property threats and is the result of an empirical and qualitative analysis conducted by the EUIPO Observatory research team and among other things highlights emerging trends and strategies for law enforcement investigations. It aims to highlight the general concepts of how applications can be misused to facilitate intellectual property violations and also provide techniques and strategies that law enforcement as well as court officials can use. - 2023 – European Union’s Office for Criminal Justice Cooperation: Advertising-funded digital piracy
A leaflet on the use of advertising to fund websites and mobile apps that offer pirated content, which has become an insidious practice in the online piracy landscape. - 2023 – EUIPO “Live Event Piracy – Discussion Paper”
Challenges and good practices from online intermediaries to prevent the use of their services for live event piracy - 2022 – European Commission “Study on copyright and new technologies. Copyright data management and artificial intelligence”
This study analyses two issues linked to copyright and technology. The first part looks into the potential use of new technologies to improve the management of data linked to copyright-protected content by European creative industries. The second part concentrates on the copyright-related challenges raised by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). - 2022 – Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) “Audiovisual Piracy Cyber Risk for European Consumers”
Study on malware and online piracy of audiovisual content and the risks to consumers. The evidence presented shows that the installation of malware on the devices of consumers involved in online piracy of audiovisual content is targeted and can lead to identity theft and fraud. In addition, malware can infect corporate networks for which the consumer is working remotely.Find the study here. - 2021 – European Audiovisual Observatory “Mapping report on national remedies against online piracy of sports content”
Α comprehensive analysis of the remedies adopted at national level in the EU and in the UK against online piracy of sports content. - 2021 – EUIPO “Study on dynamic blocking injunctions in the European Union”
This study and the relevant case law collected provides an overview of static and dynamic blocking injunctions in the EU available for rights holders who wish to effectively combat online piracy and protect their rights. - 2021 – EUIPO Report “Online copyright infringement in the European Union. Music, Films and TV (2017-2020) – Trends and Drivers”
Τhis report examines the consumption of copyright-infringing content in the EU Member States and the UK for TV programmes, music, and film, using a variety of desktop and mobile access methods, including streaming, downloading, torrents and ripping software.For the full report and the executive summaries select here. - 2019 – WIPO “Study on enforcement measures, especially anti-piracy measures in the digital environment
The study explores the global problem of online piracy, the different types of digital tools and administrative measures used by rights holders, online platforms, governments and the judiciary. - 2019 – EUIPO “Illegal IPTV in the European Union”
This research clarifies the technology used in illegal IPTV, the complex supply chains and legal issues. It also casts light on a hidden area of an everyday activity, which is being exploited by organized crime, and should help raise awareness among EU citizens. - Study: “2019 Status report on IPR infringemet”
Findings of the research carried out in recent years by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the European Observatory on the Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights (Observatory), on the extent, scope and economic consequences of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) infringement in the EU
To view an executive summary of the study select here. - Study of the Athens University of Economic and Business
- Report: “Follow the Money: Financial Options to assist in the Battle against online IP piracy”Μike Weatherley, Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, has published a report entitled ‘Follow the Money’, which addresses the detrimental impact of illegal websites profiting from advertising.
- Report: “Search Engines and Piracy”Μike Weatherley, Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, has published a report entitled ‘Search Engines and Piracy’, which outlines the shortcomings of search engine providers in the fight against online piracy.
- Case-Law Collection on the Balance between the Right to Information and Fundamental Rights in the European Union
- Report: “The Economic Contribution of the Creative Industries to the EU in terms of GDP and Jobs”
- The Link between Pirated Software and Cybersecurity Breaches: How Malware in Pirated Software Is Costing the World Billions
- Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights on the Internet
- IP facts and figures in Greece
Select Greece on the map below to view the reports about Greece - Public consultation on the evaluation and modernisation of the legal framework for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
- Intellectual property rights intensive industries and economic performance in the European Union
- 2009 – The protection of Intellectual Property rights in Greece
6. Relevant Collecting Societies (CS) and/or Collective Protection Societies (CPS)
Collecting Societies (CS) and/or Collective Protection Societies (CPS)
7. International Contact Points
- Europe and North America (Unesco – World Anti-Piracy Observatory)
8. Useful links
- Greek
- Community
- OHIM Academy Learning Portal (OALP)OHIM Academy Learning Portal (OALP), a learning management system aimed at promoting and facilitating learning for all OHIM stakeholders, and giving access to the learning resources anytime, anywhere.
- Enforcement DatabaseThe EDB helps law enforcement authorities to recognise counterfeit goods by enabling right holders to securely share with those authorities information on products and logistics.
- Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool – ACISTThe Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool (ACIST) is the European Union database that gathers statistics on detentions, at borders and in the internal markets, of articles that are suspected of infringing intellectual property rights.
- Enforcement of intellectual property rights
- Catalogue of online tools for business about IPR
- Τhe European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy
- Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
- Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
- Enterprise and Industry: Intellectual property rights
- Trade: Intellectual property
- Taxation and Customs: Counterfeit and piracy
- Justice, Freedom and Security: Financial crime
- TransAtlantic IPR Portal
- International
- Inter-Governmental and International Organisations
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
- World Trade Organization (WTO):
- World Customs Organization (WCO):
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- I buy real
- Interpol:
- Inter-Governmental and International Organisations