Brazilian illegal file sharing

Photo Credit: Agustin Diaz Gargiulo

IFPI reports Brazilian authorities have shut down FileWarez.tv, a prominent illegal file sharing hub in Brazil, following the coordinated action of record company bodies and local authorities.

IFPI, the organization representing the recorded music industry worldwide, alongside its Brazilian national group, Pro-Música, has announced the successful shuttering of prominent illegal file sharing website, FileWarez. The takedown is the coordinated effort of record company bodies and local authorities, including the Brazilian special cybercrime unit of the prosecutor’s office of São Paulo, Cyber Gaeco.

FileWarez was the most established illegal file sharing forum in Brazil, dedicated to the unauthorized sharing of music content. The site had over 118,000 registered users, with at least 24,000 monthly active users. The website was shut down following the coordinated work of IFPI, Brazilian anti-piracy body APDIF, and Cyber Gaeco.

“We congratulate Cyber Gaeco on their action,” says Melissa Morgia, Director of Global Content Protection and Enforcement, IFPI. “The site operated with no regard for the rights of music creators, and has undermined the legal marketplace in Brazil. This is an important action in the continuing fight against piracy in the country.”

“We are very grateful to the Cyber Gaeco unit of the Prosecutor’s office of São Paulo for its continuous and successful work against music piracy,” adds Paulo Rosa, President of Pro-Música Brasil.

The recent takedown is the latest in IFPI’s concerted effort alongside Brazilian law enforcement to crack down on infringing services online. Last year, IFPI reported substantial efforts made under Operation 404, relating to actions against unlicensed music services, including over 400 infringing apps. Operation 404 is a joint initiative in cooperation with the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Homeland Security Investigations in the US, the Police IP Crime Unit of the City of London Police, and cybercrime units from several Brazilian states.

As the voice of the recording industry worldwide, IFPI represents over 8,000 record company members across the globe. IFPI works to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers, and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.