DFL und DAZN erzielen Erfolg in ihrem Kampf gegen Piraterie – Media Sportservice

A German court has ordered the blocking of livetv.sx, which has been identified as the largest illegal sports streaming platform operating in Germany. The legal action, announced on May 6, 2026, was the result of a joint effort by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) and the streaming service DAZN to combat the theft of digital content.

The platform in question has been active for more than 13 years and is estimated to account for a significant portion of illegal sports streaming consumption across the DACH region, which comprises Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The case highlights the technical complexities involved in dismantling large-scale piracy operations. According to the DFL, livetv.sx utilized a variety of sophisticated methods to evade enforcement measures, including the use of non-cooperative hosting providers, domain registrars, and content-delivery networks (CDNs)—distributed servers that deliver web content to users based on their geographic location to improve speed and reliability.

The legal proceedings were coordinated through the CUII, Germany’s clearinghouse for internet piracy. The DFL and DAZN collaborated on the process by providing the specific data and technical analyses necessary to support the legal request for a blocking order.

The DFL characterized the court’s decision as a significant step in protecting broadcasting rights. Steffen Merkel, Managing Director of the DFL, stated that the ruling is of great importance for the protection of rights – an area in which the Bundesliga has been investing for many years and in which it is implementing comprehensive measures.

Merkel noted that the partnership with law enforcement agencies, partners, and international organizations like the CUII allows the organization to take more effective action against illegal streaming networks than previously possible.

The ruling is viewed by the involved parties as a precedent for addressing organized sports piracy. Ed McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of the DAZN Group, described the court’s decision as a milestone in the fight against the theft of content in Germany.

The DFL and DAZN have indicated that their efforts will continue beyond the blocking of the primary domain. The organizations are currently examining further legal steps to target connected affiliates and mirror sites associated with the platform.

This enforcement action reflects a broader strategic investment by the DFL and DAZN in technical and cross-industry measures designed to protect rights holders, partners, and consumers from the risks and damages associated with criminal streaming activities.