Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming various industries, from customer service automation to cybersecurity. Now, AI is making significant strides in copyright enforcement, providing innovative tools to combat digital piracy more efficiently than ever before.

AI Takes Center Stage at WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement

During a recent session of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Advisory Committee on Enforcement, AI-powered anti-piracy technology was a major topic of discussion. One of the key highlights was a presentation by NOS Technology, a Portuguese company pioneering AI-driven copyright protection solutions.

NOS Technology introduced a sophisticated system that utilizes artificial intelligence, blockchain, and machine learning to monitor and mitigate piracy incidents in real-time. Despite its ambitious claims, however, detailed information on its specific functionalities remains scarce.

AI-Driven Piracy Detection and Prevention

Pedro Bravo, Head of Content Protection at NOS Technology, emphasized the growing challenges of digital piracy and the necessity of AI-powered solutions. According to Bravo, traditional manual monitoring is no longer sufficient, and automated enforcement is crucial to staying ahead of evolving piracy tactics.

“These technologies employ AI, generative AI, machine learning, and blockchain to identify, validate, and respond to piracy incidents as they occur, ensuring intellectual property protection at every stage,” Bravo stated.

A standout feature of NOS Technology’s system is its ability to automatically issue takedown requests and block unauthorized streams. While AI-based takedown tools are not new, integrating them with internet service providers (ISPs) for real-time enforcement marks a significant advancement.

Direct ISP Integration for Instant Blocking

NOS Technology’s system reportedly connects directly to ISPs through an API, allowing it to block pirated content at the domain or IP level in real time. This approach is already being used in Portugal, where rights holders can request dynamic site-blocking through administrative and legal channels.

A key aspect of the system, as revealed in NOS Technology’s presentation, is its seamless interaction with Portugal’s site-blocking framework:

“Legal and administrative procedures in Portugal permit IP rights holders to request real-time or permanent takedowns by domain or IP. The AI-powered tool detects, verifies, and submits blocking requests via API to ISPs.”

By minimizing human intervention, this system enables faster and more effective content removal, potentially setting a new standard for copyright enforcement worldwide.

Hollywood’s Growing Interest in AI-Based Copyright Solutions

The Motion Picture Association (MPA), a strong proponent of global site-blocking initiatives, is also exploring AI-driven enforcement tools. At the same WIPO session, MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple underscored the importance of automation in modern copyright protection.

Temple noted that automated site-blocking solutions are crucial in today’s piracy landscape, enabling continuous monitoring of DNS servers and IP addresses. These systems can swiftly relay updates to ISPs, ensuring immediate blocking of infringing content.

“Automated communication systems facilitate real-time updates between rights holders and ISPs, allowing rapid enforcement through dynamic court orders or regulatory supervision,” Temple explained.

While NOS Technology explicitly markets its system as AI-driven, the extent to which artificial intelligence plays a role in its blocking mechanisms remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the increasing reliance on automation reflects a broader trend toward technology-driven copyright protection strategies.

The Future of AI in Copyright Enforcement

As AI continues to evolve, both copyright holders and digital pirates will seek to leverage its capabilities. While AI-driven tools offer a more efficient way to combat piracy, those involved in illegal content distribution may also develop sophisticated countermeasures.

The key question remains: will AI outpace digital piracy, or will it merely intensify the ongoing battle? Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear—artificial intelligence is now a critical force in the fight against online piracy, shaping the future of copyright enforcement in the digital age.