Italy: Communications Regulatory Authority adopted an order requiring blocking of stream ripping service haltnow.ca on grounds of copyright infringement (Order No. 55/25/DDA)

On 3 April 2025, the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority adopted an order under the Regulation on the Protection of Copyright on Electronic Communication Networks, instructing service providers to block access to the website haltnow.ca and its aliases. The order followed a complaint from the Federation Against Music and Multimedia Piracy on behalf of Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music, alleging that the site enables users to create permanent downloads of streamed music, in violation of copyright law. The order applies to entities providing or facilitating stream-ripping services and requires Domain Name System blocking and redirection to a designated information page. Service providers must comply within two days of notification, while site administrators may terminate the infringement to have the order revoked.