ABS-CBN, a leading global Filipino media and entertainment company, filed a USD $40-million lawsuit entitled, ABS-CBN v. 123Fullpinoymovieshub.com, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against 40 pirate domains pirating ABS-CBN's content and infringing its copyrights and trademarks. The Court recently issued a preliminary injunction against these 40 pirate domains to take down the domains with a serving notice. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the Federal United States District Court with territorial jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida.
The lawsuit comes as news reports show piracy has made a comeback during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report by TVtechnology.com on how media companies are dealing with piracy in the age of COVID, lockdowns resulted into more breaches of streaming security as a result of higher demand. Criminals were isolating at home as well and likely had more time and inclination to devote to nefarious activities.