Greece, through Law 5179/2025 (Government Gazette A’ 26/20.02.2025), inaugurates a new chapter in the enforcement of copyright protection on the internet. The legal framework has now become significantly stricter, not only for those who manage or distribute illegal digital content, but also for end users who consume such content.

Specifically, the law addresses the entire spectrum of illegal use of digital content, including:

• Individuals who stream content from unauthorized platforms,

• Business owners who publicly display audiovisual content without proper licensing.

The innovation introduced by this legislation lies in the extension of liability, whereby passive viewing is now treated equivalently to active infringement, resulting in the imposition of penalties even upon final consumers.

According to Law 5179/2025 (Government Gazette A’ 26/20.02.2025), the administrative sanctions are strict and tiered, as follows:

• Private individuals who access pirated content face a fine of €750, which increases to €1,500 in the event of a repeated offense.

• Businesses that conduct public screening of pirated content are fined €1,500, increasing to €3,000 in case of recurrence.

• Offenders engaging in commercial exploitation of pirated material are subject to fines of €5,000, which double to €10,000 upon repeat violations.

Under the new regulatory framework, the competent authorities are granted enhanced tools for detecting copyright infringements on the internet. From now on, user identification is based on the correlation of IP addresses with the Tax Identification Number (AFM), using data maintained by internet service providers.

Furthermore, a key instrument now deployed in the fight against piracy is the implementation of “dynamic blocking.” This refers to a process whereby access to websites that distribute or display illegal content is terminated within just 30 minutes from the detection of the violation.

Responsibility for initiating these blocks lies jointly with the Committee for the Notification of Online Copyright Infringement (EDPPI) and the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (ΕΕΤΤ), within the context of an enhanced institutional cooperation framework aimed at combating online piracy.

It is noted that, if a website modifies its IP address or domain name, the blocking mechanism is reactivated, ensuring its continuous monitoring and renewed denial of access.

In other words, even if access to pirated content is attempted through the use of a VPN, user identification cannot be ruled out, provided that the appropriate legal and technical means are available.

With regard to the implementation and supervision of the new legislation, the authorities responsible for enforcing Law 5179/2025 and imposing the relevant sanctions are:

• The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE),

• The General Directorate of the Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE),

• The Interagency Market Control Unit (DIMEA),

• The Police, Port and Customs Authorities,

which, upon verification of the infringement, notify the right holders through the Hellenic Copyright Organization.

Following the adoption of the aforementioned law, the issuance of a Joint Ministerial Decision by the Ministries of Culture and Finance is also expected, which will effectively activate the procedure for the confirmation and imposition of fines on end users.

In conclusion, Law 5179/2025 introduces a substantial shift in the way digital piracy is addressed in practice. As the issuance of the relevant Ministerial Decision is anticipated to open the path for the enforcement of sanctions against users, it is essential that both individuals and businesses reassess their practices. Prevention, through lawful access to content, constitutes not only a legal obligation but also a crucial safeguard against legal consequences.

REFERENCES

For further information regarding the legislative changes aimed at combating online piracy, please click here, here and here.