Fake copyright: even the regulator is being targeted
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5 May 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes
A copyright infringement complaint targeting the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) has reignited a heated debate: the misuse of copyright protection mechanisms for the purposes of unfair competition.
An unexpected complaint against the gambling regulator
The case may come as a surprise. A complaint for copyright infringement has been filed against the Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch gambling regulator. Usually, this type of legal action targets content publishers or digital platforms. But here, it is the institution itself that is potentially in the firing line.
Frank Kruit, an affiliate marketing specialist in iGaming, has raised the alarm about this phenomenon. According to him, this complaint is part of a wave of abusive reports that regularly target players in the legal market.
The crux of the problem lies in the very nature of copyright infringement takedown requests, often referred to as DMCA notices. Anyone can submit a request to Google on behalf of a purported client. No thorough verification process is required. Once the request is filed, it can lead to a page being de-indexed.
SEO as a battleground
In the fiercely competitive online gaming sector, every ranking counts. When a legitimate site is de-indexed, even temporarily, it frees up a position in the search results. That position is immediately taken by other operators, who are often less scrupulous.
According to reports, a large proportion of these complaints appear to originate from illegal operators or affiliates seeking to undermine the regulated market. This strategy is not limited to copyright complaints. It forms part of a wider range of practices: automated traffic, negative SEO, and fake reviews.
This type of fraud goes beyond the scope of a simple commercial dispute. It is a systemic risk that affects the very integrity of the digital ecosystem.
How can one defend against these attacks?
In the face of these practices, industry professionals are urged to redouble their vigilance.
It is becoming essential to constantly monitor the status of one’s websites, their indexing and their availability. A sudden disappearance should immediately raise the alarm.
When a page is taken down, it is crucial to act swiftly by filing a counter-notification. This process allows the complaint to be contested and the content to be reinstated.
The complaint against the Ksa goes far beyond the scope of a simple dispute. It reveals the flaws in a system where protective tools can be misused for malicious purposes.