IPA holds enforcement webinar

On June 27, 2023, IPA’s Copyright Committee held a webinar on enforcement featuring the experiences of the publishers’ associations in the UK and France with Z-Library.

Both associations had pursued the Z-Library at national level through site blocking injunctions before the Z-Library network was taken down by the US Department of Justice following the arrest and charging of Russian nationals Anton Napolsky and Valeriia Ermakova with criminal copyright infringement, wire fraud and money laundering for operating Z-Library. The pair was arrested on November 3, 2022 in Cordoba, Argentina at the request of the United States.

The two associations spoke of the real challenge presented by Z-Library to its members as it evolved over 15 years. They also shared their experience of securing the long term investment of their members as part of a consistent and coherent anti-piracy strategy and exchanged with attending IPA members on steps publishers can take in their respective markets.