Update on Spain and LaLiga blocks of the internet

Update on Spain and LaLiga Blocks of the Internet

A Spanish court has granted LaLiga the power to block IP addresses associated with unauthorized football streaming, without distinguishing between infringing and non-infringing services. This has led to legitimate, unrelated websites becoming inaccessible in Spain, causing collateral damage.

Background Information

In December 2024, Commercial Court No. 6 of Barcelona authorized LaLiga to require Spanish ISPs to block IP addresses linked to unauthorized football streaming. This ruling was upheld in March 2025, solidifying LaLiga's ability to enforce these blocks.

Widening Enforcement

Recent enforcement actions have expanded to impact Vercel infrastructure in Spain. Users now experience indiscriminate internet blocking, with legitimate websites being blocked due to their association with shared IP addresses. This emphasizes the unintended consequences of broad enforcement measures.

Conclusion

The situation in Spain highlights the challenges of implementing blanket IP address blocks without distinguishing between legal and illegal services. The collateral damage of such actions is evident, impacting users and legitimate services unrelated to piracy.