Overview

• The Fifth Criminal Section held that paid erotic images grant viewers only the right to view, not a license to redistribute.
• Judges said the crime occurs when content exits a restricted sharing circuit, so a video forwarded in October 2021 triggered liability.
• The woman’s November 12, 2021 complaint was deemed timely, reversing a 2024 Milan appeals ruling that had thrown out the case for tardiness.
• The court confirmed the rule applies to material sourced from OnlyFans even without platform downloads, noting the clip was captured via screen recording.
• Coverage highlights widespread piracy of creators’ content on Telegram and free sites, and feminist group Differenza Donna welcomed the focus on consent under Istanbul Convention principles.