Major Streaming Giants Join Forces to Crack Down on Global Piracy Network Targeting VidSrc Domains

In a coordinated legal offensive, a coalition of global entertainment powerhouses — including Netflix, Disney, Crunchyroll, Universal, Warner Bros., Apple, and Korean broadcasters SBS and CJ ENM — has launched a major lawsuit against VidSrc, one of the world’s largest video piracy networks. The action, which follows a similar crackdown in September, aims to curb illegal streaming of movies, TV shows, and anime on an unprecedented scale.

The lawsuit, filed in India, marks the first follow-up to a sweeping court order that targeted 248 piracy domains earlier this year, resulting in the takedown of several well-known anime sites, including AnimesHeaven, AnimeKai, and Anoboy. This new phase targets VidSrc and its numerous affiliated domains, which authorities and industry groups have identified as key nodes in the global piracy ecosystem.

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Hollywood and Anime Streamers Unite

The list of plaintiffs reads like a who’s who of the entertainment industry: Universal City Studios Productions LLLP, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Netflix US, LLC, Disney Enterprises Inc., Apple Video Programming LLC, Crunchyroll LLC, and South Korea’s SBS Co. Ltd., CJ ENM Co. Ltd., and SLL Joongang Co. Ltd.

Their collective action underscores a rare moment of unity among Western and Asian media companies, many of which have seen their content — particularly high-value anime titles — pirated and distributed across VidSrc-linked domains. The companies say the coordinated effort is designed to “disrupt piracy at scale” and protect their intellectual property across borders.

According to TorrentFreak, VidSrc has already begun implementing evasive tactics in response to the lawsuit, including migrating to Russian-based domains. This move complicates enforcement, as Russian registrars often fall outside the jurisdiction of Indian or Western courts.

This shift illustrates the “hydra effect” long observed in online piracy: even when dozens of domains are blocked, new ones quickly appear to take their place. While the New Delhi court has issued sweeping injunctions against VidSrc’s domains, enforcing these orders internationally — especially in countries with lax or inconsistent enforcement — remains a significant challenge.

Expanding the Legal Net

The new injunction significantly broadens the scope of enforcement. It empowers local internet service providers (ISPs) in India to block domains that resemble or are linked to previously banned sites, even if they use different names or hosts.

The court also ordered domain registrars worldwide to suspend the targeted domains within 72 hours and to provide identifying information about the domain owners, including email addresses, phone numbers, and payment details. This step is designed to help investigators identify and potentially prosecute individuals involved in these large-scale piracy networks.

Impact on Anime Piracy and Streaming Access

The involvement of major streaming platforms, such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Disney, could have a noticeable impact on anime piracy, particularly in India, one of the largest markets for online anime viewership. Users who rely on free, unauthorised anime sites may soon find their options shrinking as these domains disappear or become harder to locate.

Meanwhile, the legal streaming landscape has undergone considerable improvement. Crunchyroll continues to lead in anime distribution, while Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar have expanded their anime catalogues to attract global audiences. Still, fans argue that limited regional availability, subscription fatigue, and the lack of older or niche titles continue to drive users toward piracy.

The Ongoing Battle Against Piracy

While the lawsuit represents one of the most coordinated efforts to date against anime and film piracy, experts caution that completely eradicating piracy remains unlikely. Domain-hopping, offshore hosting, and decentralised distribution continue to make enforcement a game of digital whack-a-mole.

Even so, the entertainment industry’s growing unity — spanning Hollywood studios, tech giants, and Asian broadcasters — signals a more aggressive global stance against online piracy networks.

For now, VidSrc’s countermeasures show that the war over streaming content is far from over — but with major studios now fighting side by side, pirates may soon find fewer safe harbours online.

Source: TorrentFreak, Court Filings in New Delhi, Company Statements