After a three-year probe by various Polish law enforcement agencies, three men linked to the piracy website Ogladaj (Watch) have been detained. The investigation uncovered not just piracy activities but also other crimes, adding complexity to the case. The suspects were found in possession of luxury items and digital currencies, highlighting the financial scale of their operations.The context of this crackdown is important. A study by the European Union Intellectual Property Office in late 2022 revealed that internet users in the EU frequented pirate sites about 10 times per month, with Estonia and Latvia leading in piracy rates. Meanwhile, Poland showed remarkable restraint, with the lowest overall piracy rates in Europe. Interestingly, Polish citizens are also the most engaged with legal digital content services in Europe.Poland’s stance against piracy became evident with the arrest of individuals involved in piracy platforms like Zaukaj.vip and Ogladaj.to. The latter, a service offering illegal streams of movies and TV shows, was particularly sophisticated, sourcing content from Russia and Ukraine and displaying it in a YouTube-like interface.Despite Ogladaj.to’s modest traffic of 25,000 visits per month, compared to larger local platforms, the police dedicated significant resources to the investigation. This was due to the substantial losses to rightsholders, estimated at around PLN 15 million ($3.6 million). The platform offered paid subscriptions through vouchers and accepted cryptocurrency payments, processed through a crypto exchange run by one of the suspects.The investigation also uncovered an “internet portal with erotic advertising” linked to the Ogladaj founder, adding to the list of alleged crimes. During the arrests, police seized various items from the suspects, including luxury cars and precious metals, valued at approximately PLN 1,000,000 ($240,700).The suspects, including a 30-year-old man involved in selling vouchers, face up to five years in prison if convicted. They have been released under police surveillance, including travel restrictions, likely influenced by the mysterious disappearance of a notorious pirate in 2020. This case highlights Poland’s increasing efforts to combat digital piracy and associated criminal activities.
