LaLiga and Google deepen anti-piracy partnership

LaLiga and Google have strengthened their intellectual property partnership as the Spanish league seeks faster removal of illegal content and greater protection for the value of its audiovisual rights.The organisations said direct communication and improved use of Google’s reporting systems had accelerated the handling of LaLiga’s notifications during the 2025–26 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.Google Iberia president Lino Cattaruzzi said: “Respect for intellectual property rights and the provision of a safe digital environment are fundamental pillars. That is why we have multiple mechanisms in place to prevent the misuse of our tools by third parties, and we maintain ongoing investment in technology to actively combat piracy.“This close collaboration with LaLiga demonstrates that, through proactive communication and the proper use of our reporting channels across our products, it is possible to provide content creators with highly effective, agile and transparent technical solutions that bring security to the entertainment sector.”The partners also reported a significant reduction in the volume of incidents submitted through channels connected to Google services, with the decline continuing towards the end of the domestic season.Neither party disclosed the number of notifications, response times or percentage reduction in reported incidents. The absence of detailed figures limits an independent assessment of the programme’s overall impact.LaLiga president Javier Tebas said: “LaLiga remains firmly committed to the fight against piracy. Collaboration is essential to putting an end to this scourge, and being able to count on major players such as Google strengthens us in our purpose.“Now, together with Google, we are becoming increasingly effective in defending football, intellectual property, the entertainment sector and the integrity of fans.”Piracy remains a central commercial issue for LaLiga because unauthorised distribution can reduce the exclusivity and pricing power of media rights sold to broadcasters and streaming platforms.The agreement also marks a shift in relations between the organisations after LaLiga previously criticised major technology businesses over their response to illegal sports content.LaLiga has expanded its cooperation with technology and infrastructure companies as piracy networks increasingly use search, hosting, social media and content delivery services to distribute live streams.Google and LaLiga will continue refining their notification and enforcement processes, with the effectiveness of the partnership dependent on whether reductions can be sustained across future seasons and territories.