DFL and DAZN win German court block against livetv.sx

DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and DAZN said they have won a court decision requiring internet providers in Germany to block access to livetv.sx, describing the ruling as a major step in their efforts to curb large-scale sports piracy.The organisations said livetv.sx has operated for more than 13 years and is believed to account for a significant share of illegal sports streaming across the DACH region, covering Germany, Austria and Switzerland.The case was pursued through CUII, Germany’s clearing body for online piracy complaints, with the DFL and DAZN jointly contributing data and analysis to support the application.Steffen Merkel, chief executive of the DFL, said: “This decision is of great significance for the protection of rights, an area in which the Bundesliga has invested heavily and implemented comprehensive measures for many years."Consequently, we can now take more effective action than ever before against illegal streaming networks, in collaboration with international organisations such as CUII, law enforcement authorities, and our partners."Merkel said the ruling would allow more effective action against illegal streaming networks in collaboration with CUII, law enforcement and commercial partners.DAZN Group chief operating officer Ed McCarthy said: "This court decision is a turning point in the fight against content theft in Germany. Livetv.sx has operated at scale for more than a decade, undermining rights holders and the wider sports ecosystem."McCarthy said the action showed coordinated enforcement can “deliver meaningful results” and help protect the value of sports rights.The enforcement challenge has been complicated by the site’s use of non-compliant hosting providers, content delivery networks and registrars, according to the DFL and DAZN, which said these tactics were designed to evade takedowns and other interventions.The parties said further legal steps are being assessed against related mirror domains, signalling that the blocking order is intended as a first move rather than an endpoint.Anti-piracy efforts have become a growing priority for rights holders and broadcasters as premium live sport becomes more valuable and as illegal streaming shifts from small-scale distribution to more organised services that can replicate a paid product experience.Blocking measures do not eliminate piracy on their own, but rights owners argue they can reduce casual access at scale and raise operating costs for illegal providers, particularly when paired with platform cooperation and law enforcement action.The DFL and DAZN said they will continue to invest in legal and technical measures against piracy in their operating markets, positioning the ruling as part of an ongoing strategy to protect commercial partners and legitimate subscription and advertising revenues.