Moving Streaming Antipiracy from Reactive to Preventive: The Key to Protecting Content

Streaming entertainment in 2026 faces a big challenge—how to prevent piracy effectively. With so many hacks available to stream stealers, just reacting to the problem after the fact isn’t cutting it anymore. Maria Malinkowitsch, the Director of Product Management at Verimatrix, shared some key insights in a recent fireside chat with Steve Nathans-Kelly from Streaming Media.

Malinkowitsch discussed the difference between reactive and proactive antipiracy measures. She explained that in today’s landscape, with easy access to AI and free tools for stealing content, simply reacting to piracy isn’t enough. She used the analogy of playing whack-a-mole—it’s hard to chase down every single pirate after the fact.

Traditional methods like DRM systems and sending takedown notifications can work, but they’re not foolproof. And taking down illegal streams via the ISP often takes too long and isn’t always successful. Malinkowitsch emphasized the need to move towards proactive antipiracy measures to stay ahead of pirates.

She believes that while reactive antipiracy measures will always be necessary, the ultimate goal is to reduce the number of pirates to a manageable level. By making pirates’ lives uncomfortable and putting up effective barriers, content creators can have a fighting chance of hunting them down.

So, the next time you’re watching your favorite streaming content, remember the challenges content publishers and rightsholders face in the ongoing battle against piracy. And if you want to learn more about the latest trends in streaming entertainment, be sure to check out Streaming Media Connect 2026 from August 11-13.