A French court has ruled that enabling streaming fraud is illegal and has ordered hosting company OVH to cease providing services to two alleged fake streaming platforms, JustAnotherPanel and BuyBestSuperfans.

This legal decision marks a significant step forward in the global fight against streaming fraud, aligning efforts to protect the music industry and ensure fair revenue distribution.

This legal action was initiated by SNEP, representing the French recording industry, with support from IFPI and major platforms like Deezer, SoundCloud, and Spotify.

The ruling underscores that service providers are responsible for preventing unfair practices, emphasizing the illegality of supporting streaming fraud and protecting artists' earnings.

BuyBestSuperfans, which offered social followers, SEO services, and streams, was also targeted, with the court ordering OVH to stop hosting these sites, emphasizing the illegality of facilitating streaming fraud.

JustAnotherPanel, one of the affected platforms, had previously faced a crackdown in Brazil involving law enforcement efforts that disrupted illegal local services and over 1,000 foreign resellers of fake streams.

IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley called the ruling an important victory, noting that such services divert earnings from artists and harm the music ecosystem.

The Paris Judicial Court issued this ruling in June 2024, marking a major legal milestone against multi-million-dollar streaming manipulation operations.

The rise of AI-generated music and the ability of fake sites to adapt quickly complicate efforts to combat streaming fraud, making hosting-level interventions a strategic focus.

Streaming fraud involves artificially inflating song play counts through automated software, bots, and click farms, which results in stolen royalties, distorted charts, and industry damage.

Despite legal actions, some fake streaming sites continue to operate or reemerge, highlighting the ongoing challenge of fighting streaming fraud worldwide.