Starlink sends copyright infringement notices for downloading pirated content

Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, has started sending warnings to its users in Spain for downloading and sharing films and other audiovisual content protected by copyright.

In 2019, SpaceX, the American space transportation company led by Elon Musk, launched Starlink with the aim of deploying around 12,000 satellites to provide Internet services as a complement to fibre-optic networks and 5G connections through a monthly subscription. To date, the Starlink constellation has more than 4,000 satellites and operates in 56 countries. 

The company's protocol is to send letters to customers who use their connection to access file-sharing networks such as Torrent or eMule to download movies or other copyrighted content. In one case which attracted some public attention, a user received a certified letter from Starlink that stated that Paramount Studios was behind the claim, and even gave the exact name of the file involved in the infringement. Along with the letter, Starlink also leaves a message on its official mobile app warning that if users continue to download or share illegal content, their service will be suspended.

Starlink clarified that the notices come directly from the content providers and that, as a company, they are obliged to forward these notices to users. They also pointed out that the notifications are informative and that no immediate action will be taken against the user's account or service. This obligation arises because Starlink is a US-based company subject to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which exempts internet service providers (ISPs) from liability for what their customers do with their connection, as long as they take reasonable steps to respond to copyright infringement notices from rights holders.

It is common practice for companies such as film studios to actively monitor P2P networks and register the IP addresses of users sharing protected files. When infringement is detected, the rights holders send notices to the ISPs, who are then required to forward them to the users concerned. Starlink's website states that in order to identify an infringing user, they need specific information such as the IP address, port, protocol and the exact time the infringement occurred. It also warns that it may suspend service to users who repeatedly download or share pirated content.

This is not the only case of copyright infringement claims in Spain. In previous blog posts, we looked at how LaLiga, the organisation that manages Spain's professional football league, sent out certified letters demanding €450 from users who had accessed pirate football platforms. In this case, LaLiga obtained court approval to access users' personal data through major telecom providers. Likewise, Starlink has been required to forward copyright infringement notices to its customers in Spain, although it claims that it will not take immediate action against them.