Digital Piracy in the Spotlight: The Magis TV Case and its Legal Implications in Uruguay and the Region

By Jorge González, jgonzalez@pittaluga.com, Pittaluga Abogados

Magis TV, one of the most popular IPTV platforms used for audiovisual piracy in Latin America, is facing blocks and restrictions for retransmitting content without authorization. The challenge is growing, while legal frameworks are still struggling to catch up.

Magis TV offers illegal access to live television channels, movies, and series from platforms such as DirecTV, Flow, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, or Apple TV. Although IPTV technology itself is not illegal, the way this platform uses it infringes copyright by retransmitting protected content without a license.

The phenomenon has grown rapidly, directly affecting the audiovisual industry both due to economic losses and the difficulty of controlling its expansion. Governments, regulatory bodies, and legal platforms are reacting, but the current legal framework still has major limitations.

In Colombia, the National Copyright Directorate ordered in February 2025 the permanent blocking of domains and IPs associated with Magis TV. In Uruguay, URSEC blocked several related domains in 2024, although the current decree only allows such blocking to remain in place for 30 days, which reduces the effectiveness of the measure, as the sites quickly reappear under new names.

In May 2025 it was announced that Magis TV would stop working on several Smart TV models due to new technical and legal restrictions, reflecting a coordinated reaction, though still insufficient.

What can Uruguay do about these platforms?

The government has legal and technical tools to address the problem, such as:

Blocking domains and IPs through internet service providers.

International collaboration, such as Operation 404, led by Brazil together with several countries.

Legal actions against those who facilitate access to illegal content, including financial penalties.

Awareness campaigns to warn users about the risks of using pirate services (malware, data theft, etc.).

Why does it matter?

Magis TV and similar platforms create unfair competition, offering premium content at rock-bottom prices without paying copyright fees. This harms legal operators, content creators, and the audiovisual ecosystem as a whole.

It is urgent to strengthen legislation on digital piracy, with harsher sanctions both for those who provide these services and for users who knowingly consume them.

Only a comprehensive approach—legal, technical, and educational—will make it possible to effectively and sustainably address this phenomenon.