ABS-CBN awarded $21 million in lawsuit against 21 pirate website operators November 16, 2021 AT 09 : 09 AM Filipino media giant illustrates how pirate domains can be taken down via US Courts SAN FRANCISCO, CA November 15, 2021 – The Court in the Southern District of Florida entered a default judgment in favor of leading Filipino media and entertainment company, ABS-CBN, and against 21 pirate site operators. The Order includes an award of damages in excess of $1 million against each of the 21 pirate website operators. The websites associated with these illegal operations are streaming portals offering free access to ABS-CBN content in the U.S. and abroad. Due to the defendants’ failure to appear in court or participate in the lawsuit, the court approved ABS-CBN’s request for $1 million in trademark damages against each of the site operators. Below are the defendants by number and subject domain name: Additionally, six of the defendants were ordered to pay between $30,000 to $90,000 in damages for copyright infringement. Further, thefilipinochannel.su was ordered to pay another $10,000 in cybersquatting damages for its domain name, which is confusingly similar to one of ABS-CBN’s registered trademarks. Despite the challenge of not knowing the identities of the pirate domain operators, the default judgment takes direct aim at their wallets. The order includes a provision that requires advertising service providers to turn over any restrained revenue generated by the pirate websites. These funds were previously restrained in a temporary restraining order against the defendants. Moreover, these pirate sites have been ordered to hand over their domain names to ABS-CBN so that they may no longer be used as a source for their infringing activities. If the domains’ current registrars do not comply, ABS-CBN may escalate the order to the controlling registry, which will then be instructed to put the domains on hold and remove them from the TLD zone files. At this time, ABS-CBN has succeeded in removing 18 of the domains at issue. “There is a way to stop pirates and the U.S. court system is making it possible,” said ABS-CBN Global Anti-Piracy and Content Security Head Elisha Lawrence. “The demand for ABS-CBN content around the world remains high and many will capitalize on this illegally. They can try, but sooner rather than later, the long arm of the law will catch them.” Source: Final Default Judgment, ABS-CBN Corporation, et al. v. 123fullpinoymovieshub.com, Southern District of Florida, Case No. 21-60663-CIV-COHN/Strauss.
"Hello, Love, Again" breaks box office records in 10 days, now the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time with P930M worldwide sales ABS-CBN FilmsStar Cinema Former “Kalokalike” winner Nicki Morena reveals her married-life plans on “Tao Po” ABS-CBN NewsTao Po RK joins the cast of new ABS-CBN series "Nobody" ABS-CBNEntertainment "Hello, Love, Again" reaches P566M in Philippine box office, pledges support to typhoon victims ABS-CBNStar Cinema Annrain drops holiday single "Paano Ngayong Pasko" ABS-CBN MusicStar Pop "Hello, Love, Again" breaks into US box-office top 10 with $2.4 million ABS-CBNABS-CBN Films "Hello, Love, Again" sets new record with highest single-day box office gross of P90M, rakes in P245M in 3 days ABS-CBN FilmsStar Cinema Advisory on Grand BINIverse Concert Day 2 (Nov. 17) ABS-CBNBINI BINI reimagines Christmas classic "Joy To The World" ABS-CBN MusicStar Music "Hello, Love, Again" makes P155M in 2 days ABS-CBNABS-CBN Films
"Hello, Love, Again" breaks box office records in 10 days, now the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time with P930M worldwide sales ABS-CBN FilmsStar Cinema
Former “Kalokalike” winner Nicki Morena reveals her married-life plans on “Tao Po” ABS-CBN NewsTao Po
"Hello, Love, Again" reaches P566M in Philippine box office, pledges support to typhoon victims ABS-CBNStar Cinema
"Hello, Love, Again" sets new record with highest single-day box office gross of P90M, rakes in P245M in 3 days ABS-CBN FilmsStar Cinema