eNews
ISPs in Europe authorised to stop illegal and pirated movie sites
NEW DELHI: In a judgment that may serve as a precursor to similar action around the globe, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has said that the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Europe can legally block piracy sites that illegally distribute copyright-protected material.
The Motion Picture Association’s European branch welcomed the decision as a “proportionate and valid measure” in fighting copyright infringement and “an important milestone in the creative industries’ ongoing efforts to curb online piracy.”
The verdict sets a clear legal framework across the European Union territories and confirms national court rulings in several territories. The ruling also sends a strong signal to ISPs that website blocking is an effective measure to reduce overall infringement, the MPA said, and that ISP is typically the best-place to tackle copyright infringement.
The European court ruled on a case filed on 15 June 2012 before the Austrian Supreme Court. Distributors Constantin Film and Wega took action against Austrian ISP UPC Telekabel Wien for not blocking access to kino.to, the largest piracy site in German-speaking Europe with a top 40 ranking on Alexa.com and up to four million visitors per day. The case went all the way to Europe’s Supreme Court, with the CJEU asking to clarify the legality of site blocking, which Internet freedom advocates have compared to censorship.
MPA EMEA president and MD Chris Marcich said the verdict means that rights holders “will continue to have the ability to secure balanced website blocking orders from national courts across the EU to address infringing sites.”
Marcich said: “I am particularly encouraged by the strong stance the CJEU has taken in relation to the responsibility of intermediaries to address copyright infringement. A sustainable internet that benefits all must operate fairly, with proportionate and balanced rules. We must all play a constructive role in this aim, including search engines who continue to lead consumers to illegal money-making sites.”
He cited the hard work the movie industry across Europe is carrying out to “develop new, innovative and consumer-friendly platforms delivering the shows and movies that audiences want to see — whilst ensuring that the creators and makers get compensated for their hard work.”
According to MPA figures, citizens in Europe have access to over 3,000 legal on-demand video services.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
