Iraq Without Piracy Summit 2025
What does this event really mean for the future of streaming in Iraq and MENA?
Hey streamers 👋
Earlier this month, I was in Baghdad for an event with a name that says it all: Iraq Without Piracy Summit.
What does this event mean for the future of streaming in Iraq? And how could it impact the MENA region?
Today’s program
The impact of piracy in Iraq
Iraq Without Piracy Summit: key takeaways from the event
How alternatives to piracy can drive sustainable growth
And… Action!
The impact of piracy in Iraq
Before telling you what happened at the Iraq Without Piracy Summit (IWPS), let’s take a moment to understand the state of piracy in Iraq today and how it’s affecting the media and entertainment industry.
Piracy is a big part of how people in Iraq watch content. From illegal streaming services provided by ISPs to ad-supported websites and social media, it spreads easily because it’s cheap and easy to access:
ISP-supported IPTV & OTT platforms
The biggest challenge comes from Iraqi internet service providers (ISPs) bundling illegal streaming platforms with their internet subscriptions. Services like Cinemana, MyTV+, and Vodu give users access to premium content from around the world at no additional cost to the user as part of their package, making piracy feel like a built-in feature rather than an illegal alternative.
Ad-supported piracy websites & Apps
Another form of piracy comes from websites and apps that make money through advertising. Platforms like Egybest, Arab Lions, Akoam, and Cima4up bombard users with pop-ups, autoplay videos, and full-screen ads, often leading to scam sites.
Piracy on Social Media & Messaging Apps
Social media is also a big source of piracy. YouTube can host illegal copies of movies and TV shows, making money from ads. Messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp are also used to share and promote illegal streams, making it harder to stop.
Here are some screenshots from illegal streaming services in Iraq and MENA:
Piracy costs Iraq’s creative industries millions of dollars every year. With illegal platforms dominating the market, investors are hesitant to support local productions. This makes it harder for Iraqi creators to get noticed, leaving local stories missing from major platforms.
The impact extends beyond the industry. The government loses tax revenue, from VAT to corporate and income taxes, weakening GDP growth and economic stability.
Fighting piracy in Iraq needs a local approach with multiple solutions. Blocking illegal services at the ISP level is important, but enforcement alone won’t solve the problem.
ISPs need better incentives, like tax benefits or easier licensing, to partner with legal platforms instead of supporting illegal ones. Streaming services can also work together on special content bundles and anti-piracy efforts to attract more users.
Consumer awareness is just as important. Many people don’t realize the risks of piracy, from security threats to poor-quality content. Public campaigns can help change perceptions and encourage users to choose safe, legal options.
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The Iraq Without Piracy Summit 2025 is an important step. But this isn’t just about stopping piracy, it’s about creating a legal and thriving media industry that benefits everyone, from creators to viewers.
I listed below my key takeaways from IWPS 2025 ↓
IWPS 2025: Key takeaways from the event
On February 13th in Baghdad, the Iraq Without Piracy Summit brought together key players from the media, telecom, and government to discuss the growing issue of online video piracy.
The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Hiyam Al-Yasiri, Minister of Media and Communications, and Dr. Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities. Their support showed that the Iraqi government is serious about fighting piracy and protecting the industry.
Leaders from major companies including beIN MENA, TOD, MBC/Shahid, STARZPLAY, Nagra, LaLiga, 1001, Supercell, Fiber X, and NBTel attended, highlighting the importance of working together to find solutions
IWPS 2025 focused on 3 main goals:
Inspire change: experts from Iraq and around the world shared strategies to fight piracy and support legal streaming services.
Find new solutions: companies showcased new technologies and tools to protect digital content.
Build stronger connections: The event provided a space for government officials, industry leaders, and innovators to collaborate on long-term solutions.
The summit also raised awareness to explain piracy in a simple way. A special video and an outdoor display showed how piracy harms the media industry and what can be done to stop it.
Before the main event, the Minister of Media and Communications held a private meeting with key stakeholders to understand the key issues being faced and potential legal and regulatory changes that could be introduced by the Government. This reinforced the Government’s commitment to supporting the industry and taking action against piracy.
Fighting piracy isn’t just about new laws, it’s also about changing consumer habits. Many people in Iraq use illegal streaming services without realizing the harm piracy causes. Educational campaigns and community engagement can help raise awareness about the risks of piracy and the benefits of legal streaming.
She also explained that piracy is a form of theft, which goes against Islamic values of honesty and fair trade. In Islam, respecting other people's rights, including intellectual property, is important.
IWPS 2025 was a strong first step, but real change will come through continued collaboration between the government, media companies, and the public.
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The Iraq Without Piracy Summit (IWPS) 2025 featured a series of powerful speeches and panel discussions, bringing together key voices from government, industry, and technology.
Here are summaries of the main presentations and panels:
OPENING REMARKS | Accelerating Iraq’s Fight Against Piracy
H.E Dr Hiam Al-Yasseri, Minister of Communication
Dr Hiam Al-Yasseri explained the government’s commitment to fighting piracy and called for teamwork between the public and private sectors to build a legal and growing media industry.
She recognized the challenges but remained confident that Iraq can create better rules and support industry growth.
KEYNOTE SPEECH | Uniting to Protect Content: The Fight Against Piracy
Guillermo Rodriguez, Director of Operations Laliga
Guillermo Rodriguez spoke about LaLiga 10-year fight against piracy, thanks to a dedicated team of people. LaLiga has set up anti-piracy lab in Madrid, Mexico, and soon in the Middle East to strengthen its global efforts. He warned that if piracy isn’t addressed, it could seriously harm the future of the industry.
Guillermo Rodriguez criticized tech giants like Google and CloudFlare for not doing enough, even though they have the tools to act. He shared an example where child abuse content was found behind a CloudFlare IP but wasn’t properly handled, highlighting their lack of responsibility.
LaLiga is working with governments, including Saudi Arabia and others, to step up the fight against piracy. Guillermo Rodriguez pointed out that while public institutions may not have the right technology, partnerships with organizations like LaLiga can help fill the gap.
He urged major tech companies to take real action against piracy instead of making small, symbolic efforts. Looking ahead, he hopes that within a year, platforms like CloudFlare and Google will stop tolerating piracy and take real steps to shut it down.
KEYNOTE SPEECH | The role of ISPs in Promoting Legal Content
Sabah AlKubaisy, CEO Supercell Networks
Sabah AlKubaisy spoke about the huge growth potential for Supercell’s digital services, with 9 million households creating a major opportunity. He shared how Supercell grew from a small startup eight years ago to a company with 1,000 employees by focusing on legal content and value-driven services.
Unlike traditional ISPs, Supercell sees itself as a "broad connectivity provider," expanding beyond internet services into content, shopping, and wholesale offerings since 2003. Sabah AlKubaisy also highlighted how Supercell has disrupted the market by following ESG principles from the start.
Looking ahead to 2025, the company plans to build more data centers and IXP environments to attract global CDNs. It is also investing in talent incubators at universities and working with regulators to bring international best practices to the digital industry in Iraq.
Sabah AlKubaisy emphasized that strong partnerships between the public and private sectors are key for sustainable growth. He positioned Supercell as a major player in shaping the future of Iraq’s digital landscape.
KEYNOTE SPEECH | The role of technology in fighting piracy
Chrys Poulain, MENA Sales Director NAGRA
Chrys Poulain called the summit a “turning point in Iraq’s history”. He described piracy as a “parasite” draining the media industry and warned that without action, legal platforms will continue to struggle.
He is convinced that technology must be part of the solution. Tools like DRM, commercial access control, and CCM security can help reduce piracy, but real success depends on collaboration between ISPs, content owners, regulators, and tech companies.
He mentioned Brazil and Spain as examples where Government led strong anti-piracy efforts through better regulations helped change consumer behaviour. With its young, digital-savvy population, Iraq has the potential to lead the way in MENA’s fight against piracy and to become one of the most significant media markets in the entire MENA region. The challenge now is making it happen
DISCUSSION PANEL | Institutional Piracy in Iraq: A Growing Threat
Cameron Andrews (Legal Director for Anti-Piracy, beIN MEDIA GROUP), Danny Bates (COO, STARZPLAY), Scott Weeman (Director of Partnerships, Shahid), moderated by Chrys Poulain
The panel started with a discussion on how piracy in MENA differs from other regions, led by Chrys Poulain. Cameron Andrews explained that while piracy is a global issue, it takes a unique form in MENA. Unlike in the US or Europe, where piracy mostly involves illegal streaming, many operators in MENA integrate unlicensed content into their business models.
Danny Bates and Scott Weeman stressed the need for faster takedown processes, especially for live sports and entertainment. Pirates constantly change IP addresses and domain names, making it difficult to shut them down. Danny Bates pointed out that pirate sites not only appear at the top of Google search results but also pay for ads, urging tech companies to take stronger action.
Cameron Andrews highlighted that pirates always target the weakest link, whether on traditional TV or streaming platforms. He emphasized that governments and legal platforms need stronger partnerships to close these gaps. AI-powered content detection could help, but tech giants like Google and Facebook need to take the lead in limiting piracy at scale.
On the business side, Scott Weeman mentioned that balancing anti-piracy enforcement with strong legal alternatives is key to long-term success. Cameron Andrews also noted that IP blocking regulations are improving, while Danny Bates predicted a future where licensed platforms become the norm and unlicensed content loses ground.
The key message? Fighting piracy requires strong Government efforts leading to improved speed, better enforcement, and stronger collaboration between regulators, platforms, and tech companies.
SPOTLIGHT ON IRAQ | Iraqi Film Fund Initiative
Dr Arif Al-Saadi, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Cultural Affairs
PANEL DISCUSSION | Empowering Local Content in Iraq
Mohammed Alghadhban (CEO Baghdad Film Institute), Zaid Fadhil (CEO Iraqi Cinema ), Mohanad Hayal (Iraqi Film Fund Member )
How alternatives to piracy can drive sustainable growth
Understanding how piracy works and its impact is important, but so is recognizing the progress already being made. Change is happening, and new initiatives are pushing the market in the right direction.
The arrival of legal streaming platforms like 1001 is starting to shift consumer habits. By offering affordable subscription plans designed for Iraqi households, 1001 has proven that people will choose legal content when given the right options.
This shift has also drawn more investment from major media players. OSN+, StarzPlay, Rotana, TOD, and LaLiga have all partnered with 1001.
Even Iraq’s ISPs are beginning to adapt. Some, including Supercell, Fiber X, and NBtel, have started acquiring legal subscriptions from platforms like 1001 and Shahid instead of relying on piracy-backed models. This is a major step toward aligning ISPs with the legal streaming ecosystem.
But long-term success depends also on strong enforcement. Without government action to block illegal services and hold ISPs accountable, piracy will continue. If nothing changes, it could send the wrong message, that piracy is tolerated, discouraging future investment.
If Iraq commits to strict policies and industry collaboration, it could become a regional model in anti-piracy efforts. A strategy that combines legal enforcement with legal streaming.
The Iraq Without Piracy Summit could be a turning point. Now, the challenge is to keep the momentum going and prove that a legal, thriving media market in Iraq is possible.
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