ACE Shuts Down MKVCinemas, One of India’s Largest Piracy Networks

In a major crackdown on online piracy, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has dismantled MKVCinemas, one of India’s most popular illegal streaming platforms, along with 25 related domains. The network had provided free access to movies and TV shows to millions of users over the past two years, attracting over 142.4 million visitors between 2024 and 2025.

The action, supported by more than 50 major film studios and television networks, including Disney, Warner Bros, Netflix, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and Universal Pictures, resulted in the shutdown of the operator in Bihar, who agreed to cease operations and transfer control of all associated domains. Visitors to MKVCinemas sites are now redirected to ACE’s “Watch Legally” portal.

Crackdown on File-Cloning Tool

ACE also shut down a widely used file-cloning tool that allowed users in India and Indonesia to copy copyrighted content directly from hidden cloud repositories into personal cloud storage. The tool had attracted 231.4 million visits over two years and helped users evade takedown efforts by concealing the source of media files.

“Our actions make clear that ACE will relentlessly pursue and dismantle illegal operations so audiences and creators can benefit from a secure, sustainable marketplace,” said Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President at the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

Recent Anti-Piracy Operations

• Photocall: A major TV piracy service providing access to 1,127 channels for over 26 million users annually, recently taken down by ACE and DAZN.

• Europol-led Operation: Disrupted 69 piracy streaming sites with over 11.8 million annual visitors and referred 25 illegal IPTV services for cryptocurrency disruption.

• Other 2025 Actions: ACE shut down Streameast, a large illegal live sports streaming network, and Rare Breed TV, an IPTV platform offering over 28,000 channels and more than 100,000 movies and series.

ACE has consistently partnered with law enforcement agencies worldwide, including Europol, Interpol, and the U.S. Department of Justice, to dismantle large-scale piracy networks and secure a legitimate streaming marketplace for audiences and creators.