Image by Zarateman, from Wikimedia Commons
FitGirl-Repacks Named As Key Piracy Threat In ESA’s 2024 Report
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- FitGirl-Repacks saw 22 million visits in July 2024 despite domain blocks.
- The ESA’s report omits mentions of malware, cryptocurrencies, and Scene release groups.
- Rightsholders still haven’t identified the operators behind FitGirl-Repacks.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has recently submitted its updated list of “Notorious Markets” to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, naming FitGirl-Repacks as a prominent new piracy threat, the story was first reported by TorrentFreak (TF).
The ESA, which represents major gaming companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Ubisoft, compiles this list to shape U.S. government copyright enforcement priorities.
FitGirl-Repacks has long been a major player in game piracy, known for distributing compressed versions of video games, making it easier for users to download pirated content.
The site itself does not host pirated material directly, but provides links to third-party platforms offering unauthorized game copies. The platform’s mascot—a likeness borrowed from the French film Amélie—has become a symbol associated with piracy, as noted by TF.
Despite its massive audience, FitGirl remains a relatively elusive entity. The person or group behind FitGirl-Repacks has not been publicly identified, although the site has been active for more than a decade, as noted by TF.
The site’s operators have managed to evade legal repercussions, though its domains have been blocked in certain countries, such as Italy and Spain, reported TF. These blocks have had limited success in curbing the site’s traffic, as users can often access FitGirl through alternative domains or mirror sites.
While the ESA’s list continues to highlight torrent sites and hosting platforms, its omission of previously noted issues like malware, cryptocurrencies, and Scene release groups stands out, reported TF.
In contrast to last year’s concerns about emerging threats, the focus has shifted entirely to platforms like FitGirl and its smaller counterpart, Dodi-Repacks, which has also been flagged for distributing pirated games, noted TF.
The report underscores the ongoing difficulty in combating piracy. Though new tactics like domain blocks have been employed, these piracy sites continue to thrive globally, frustrating game developers and publishers, as noted by TF.
While the ESA’s recent report now officially acknowledges FitGirl as a significant piracy threat, the site’s continued resilience demonstrates the challenges copyright enforcers face in cracking down on such platforms.
Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash
Perplexity AI Seeks to Double Valuation with $500 Million Fundraising Round
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- People familiar with the matter confirmed that Perplexity is looking to raise $500 in a fourth funding round this year
- With a new agreement, Perplexity could raise its valuation above $8 million
- The company’s annual revenue is estimated at 50 million
The artificial intelligence company Perplexity AI expects to raise $500 million in a new round of funding that would double its valuation to more than $8 billion.
According to The Wall Street Journal , this would be the startup’s fourth round of the year, in “an unusually fast pace” even for Silicon Valley companies.
The company’s valuation has significantly evolved and increased this year. In January, Perplexity AI was worth $520 million and by the summer it had reached $3 billion.
Based on recent sales—premium subscriptions to users—, the company’s annual revenue is estimated at 50 million.
Other AI companies have significantly increased their value as well. Just a few weeks ago, OpenAI reached $157 billion after raising $6.6 billion in recent funding, ensuring its lead in the AI assistant race . Perplexity AI seems to be working on strategic moves to remain competitive in the market.
CNBC also confirmed the funding talks with a person familiar with the matter, but the details of the discussions and negotiations with potential investors have not been disclosed and remain private. According to the American news channel, Perplexity AI also wants to challenge Google’s dominance and gain relevance in the search engine industry.
In August, the Nvidia-backed AI company announced that it would include ads on its platform with a new system by the end of the year, as a strategy to share revenues for interactions with publishers among plagiarism controversies.
Just a few days ago, the New York Times issued a cease-and-desist letter requesting the AI company to stop using its content without permission.
