Google, Cisco, and Cloudflare Challenge DAZN's Anti-Piracy Measures in Brussels Court

In a landmark case before the Business Court in Brussels, tech giants Google, Cisco, and Cloudflare argued that DNS blocking measures requested by sports streaming platform DAZN are disproportionate, ineffective, and costly. The dispute stems from a March 2025 order requiring the blocking of illegal sites streaming Pro League football matches. Cloudflare contested a penalty totaling 2.9 million euros, having implemented CDN blocking instead of DNS measures to avoid service disruption. The companies contended that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are better positioned to enforce blocks, as alternative DNS resolvers reach only a small market segment. Google suggested that search engine-level interventions are more effective against piracy. Additionally, Cisco criticized DAZN’s business model, arguing that high subscription prices and a lack of competitive alternatives catalyze online piracy. While DAZN holds exclusive broadcasting rights until 2027, it recently secured distribution agreements with major Belgian ISPs like Orange/Voo, Proximus, and Telenet. The court views this unprecedented debate as an opportunity to refine Belgium’s legislative framework on online copyright infringement. Further arguments from DAZN are scheduled for May 22.