Bulgaria Removed from Intellectual Property Watch List after Progress in Anti-Piracy Enforcement, Prosecution Says

Bulgaria has been removed from the intellectual property protection watch list under the so-called "Special 301" Report following coordinated efforts by Bulgaria's Prosecution Office and the National Investigation Service, in cooperation with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Homeland Security, the prosecution said on Monday.

According to the official US report, the decision reflects significant progress in enforcement and increased criminal proceedings targeting online piracy. Legislative measures and concrete investigative results were also taken into account, including large-scale operations carried out in January 2026 against the illegal distribution of protected content.

During those operations, conducted under the supervision of the prosecution, joint teams from the National Investigation Service, the State Agency for National Security and the Ministry of Interior carried out procedural actions at 30 locations across the country, in partnership with US law enforcement representatives.

The operation led to the dismantling of key structures supporting some of the most visited pirate platforms in Bulgaria, the seizure of substantial electronic evidence, and the termination of access to a significant volume of illegal content. Individuals involved in the criminal activity were also identified, the statement said.

A national network of prosecutors and investigators specializing in intellectual property crimes and cybercrime was established at the National Investigation Service in late April, the prosecution added.

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