Spanish Court Orders VPN Powerhouses Block Access To Pirated LALIGA Streams

A Spanish commercial court has granted precautionary measures against VPN providers NordVPN and ProtonVPN, ordering them to block access from Spain to IP addresses linked to the illegal streaming of LaLiga matches.

In an official statement released Tuesday, LALIGA and Telefónica Audiovisual Digital (TAD) confirmed they had been notified of several rulings issued by Commercial Court No. 1 of Córdoba. The court granted “inaudita parte” precautionary measures, meaning the decision was made without first hearing from the defendants, and recognized the responsibility of VPN service providers as technological intermediaries in the process of audiovisual piracy.

Immediate Blocking Orders

Under the court’s orders, NordVPN and ProtonVPN must immediately implement technical measures within their systems to ensure that IP addresses identified by the claimants as illegally transmitting protected content are inaccessible from Spain. The measures are dynamic in nature, allowing for continuous updates as new infringing IP addresses are detected, and are not subject to appeal.

The rulings state that VPN providers fall within the scope of the European Digital Services Regulation, which requires certain intermediaries to prevent or mitigate infringements occurring through their infrastructure. The court found that VPN systems can serve as “highly effective and accessible” tools for bypassing geographical restrictions, enabling access to websites broadcasting protected content unlawfully.

According to the orders, the defendant companies acknowledge and even promote their services as capable of evading online restrictions, a factor the court considered in granting the measures.

Link to Previous Judgment

The new decisions build on a December 2024 ruling by Commercial Court No. 6 of Barcelona, which ordered internet service providers to block access to websites illegally streaming LALIGA content. The Córdoba court referenced that judgment directly, stating the current measures aim to prevent VPN services from enabling users in Spain to circumvent already established access restrictions.

The orders also require LALIGA and Telefónica Audiovisual Digital to preserve sufficient digital evidence of unlawful transmissions when notifying the VPN providers, reinforcing the reliability of anti-piracy procedures previously endorsed by Spanish courts.

Pioneering Rulings

LALIGA described the decisions as unprecedented in Spain and pioneering worldwide due to their dynamic enforcement mechanism. The league also pointed to similar legal action in France, where courts have recognized the role of VPN services in facilitating audiovisual fraud.

In its statement, LALIGA reiterated its commitment to combating piracy and defending the audiovisual rights of its member clubs, positioning itself as a global benchmark in the fight against illegal sports streaming.

The rulings represent a significant escalation in Spain’s legal battle against digital piracy, expanding enforcement beyond traditional website blocks to target the technological tools used to bypass them.

Featured Image Credit: LaLiga.com