May 6 – The DFL and DAZN have secured a significant win in Germany’s ongoing battle against sports piracy, with a court ordering the blocking of the livetv.sx streaming platform.
The site, which has operated for more than 13 years, is regarded as one of the largest sources of illegal sports streams in the DACH region. Despite repeated attempts to evade enforcement – including the use of offshore hosting, content delivery networks and non-compliant registrars – the ruling means access to the platform will now be restricted in Germany.
The case was brought via CUII, Germany’s clearing body for online piracy, with both the DFL and DAZN contributing data and technical analysis to support the proceedings.
For rights holders, the legal decision is a step forward in the protection of their rights in what has often been a difficult area to police, particularly when dealing with well-established platforms operating across multiple jurisdictions.
“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,” said DFL chief executive Steffen Merkel. “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. We thank all parties involved for their close cooperation and determined action in this case.”
DAZN described the ruling as a potential inflection point.
“This court decision is a turning point in the fight against content theft in Germany,” said Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer of DAZN Group. “Livetv.sx has operated at scale for more than a decade, undermining rights holders and the wider sports ecosystem. By working through CUII and collaborating with partners such as the DFL, DAZN is demonstrating that coordinated enforcement can deliver meaningful results. This ruling protects the value of sport and creates a fairer, more sustainable market.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]