Digital Piracy - Online Crimes Against Intellectual Property Rights

Thanks to the rapid development of high-speed networks and high-quality video and audio content, piracy has become a large-scale phenomenon. In the modern world, where everything is interconnected, technologies may change, but the fundamental problem remains the same. Piracy has become the norm for many people and is no longer regarded as risky or as having any adverse consequences. Digital piracy is a copyright infringement associated with the illegal copying, distribution, and streaming of content via the Internet. With the development of high-speed networks, streaming platforms, and filesharing technologies, the scale of illegal activity has increased significantly. In the modern world, piracy has become a common phenomenon that many people perceive as normal, while its negative consequences for the entertainment industry and authors remain underestimated. The study shows that the main forms of digital piracy are illegal downloading and streaming of copyrighted content, including films, music, television series, games, and software. Criminals behind pirate websites may be members of organized criminal groups. They may use the funds obtained to finance other illegal activities, such as illegal online gambling, online sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and money laundering. Organized criminal groups involved in online piracy often disguise themselves as ordinary commercial companies and have flexible structures that allow them to quickly adapt to changes in the environment. The reasons for the spread include the low cost of illegal resources, the limited availability of legal alternatives, as well as the technological simplicity of distribution. In Russia, the level of piracy remains high despite blocking measures and legal actions. For effective counteraction, it is necessary not only to strengthen legal liability but also to change public attitudes toward piracy by developing cultural and educational programs, as well as by implementing innovative technical protection measures, such as code obfuscation and software protection. International cooperation and coordinated efforts can significantly reduce the volume of illegal content and drive the development of legal distribution channels.