As a result of consistent and coordinated efforts of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and the National Investigation Service, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, our country was removed from the Special 301 Watch List for intellectual property protection.
According to the U.S. official report, the decision was made due to significant progress achieved in law enforcement and the intensification of criminal proceedings against IP crimes online.
The legislative measures taken are considered, as well as specific results of the investigations, including the large-scale operations carried out in January 2026 against the illegal distribution of protected content. Then, under the leadership of the Prosecutor's Office, joint teams of the National Investigation Service, the State Agency for National Security and the Ministry of Interior, in partnership with representatives of U.S. law enforcement institutions, carried out investigative actions at 30 addresses in the country. During the operation, key structures supporting some of the most visited pirate platforms in Bulgaria were neutralized, numerous electronic evidence was seized, and access to a significant amount of illegal content was terminated. Individuals involved in criminal activity were identified.
Two weeks ago, at the National Investigation Service a National Network of Prosecutors and Investigators specializing in countering cybercrime and crime against intellectual property was established within the framework of the sustainable partnership between Bulgarian and U.S. authorities.
The initiative aims to strengthen the expert capacity and improve effectiveness of investigations in this dynamically developing field.
The event was also attended by representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice - Kristi O'Malley, Intellectual Property Attorney Advisor, and Matt Lamberti, senior advisor, who expressed support for the joint work and reported on the results achieved in the fight against online piracy.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria will continue its active work in protecting intellectual property rights and combating cybercrime in close cooperation with national and international partners.
The Prosecutor's Office and the National Investigation Service continuously cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and take the necessary measures to increase the capacity of prosecutors and investigators and provide the necessary material and technical support for the investigation of cybercrimes.