Sony recently filed a patent that sends shockwaves through the streaming community. The technology described would give Sony the ability to identify and block pirated streaming apps loaded from outside official app stores. If put into action, this measure could profoundly impact the streaming box landscape.
In this guide, we‘ll analyze Sony‘s anti-piracy plans and what they could mean for your streaming access and experience:
- A look back at Sony‘s aggressive anti-piracy history
- How the blocking system would work on a technical level
- Will Amazon, Google and others implement Sony‘s tech?
- What experts think about the implications for consumers
- How pirates adapt to new protections and what that means
- Impact on smaller streaming box makers
- What you can do as a consumer if restrictions are enacted
Let‘s dive in and unpack Sony‘s plans to rein in streaming piracy.
Sony‘s Long Crusade Against Piracy
Sony has been on the forefront of the anti-piracy fight for decades now. Back in the early 2000s, you may remember Sony targeting sites like Napster that made illegal song downloads easy. The company lobbied hard for stricter copyright protections and helped form industry groups to identify and prosecute digital piracy.
This latest patent filing shows that Sony is still deeply committed to combatting illicit streaming. According to a Sony spokesman, streaming piracy results in estimated losses of over $100 billion annually. It‘s easy to see why the company is focused on safeguarding its intellectual property.
By the Numbers: The Impacts of Streaming Piracy
Recent statistics paint a picture of the massive scale of unauthorized streaming:
- Streaming piracy traffic increased over 100% globally from 2019 to 2021 (Muso Group)
- $71 billion value of pirated films and TV shows streamed in 2021 alone (Motion Picture Association)
- Just 5% of North American internet users account for over 80% of pirated streaming (Sandvine)
For creators and studios, these losses represent funding that could have developed new projects and paid workers‘ salaries. While piracy will always exist in some form, its current scale likely demands mitigation.
How Sony‘s Anti-Piracy System Works
Now let‘s examine how Sony‘s conceptual anti-piracy system would function…
[Post continues with more detailed technical explanation, analysis of consumer impacts, interviews with experts, discussion of workarounds, tips for consumers, and more]