Cuevana Explained

Cuevana
Commercial:	Free access
Type:	Movies and television streaming
Language:	Spanish English
Author:	Mario Cardosio David Fernández Tomás Escobar
Launch Date:	^[1]
Current Status:	Discontinued

Cuevana was an Argentine file sharing website that offers movies and television content in their original languages, with Spanish subtitles.^[2] The site was created in October 2009 and as of 2011 was one of the 20 most visited websites in Argentina with half a million visits daily.^[3]

Cuevana operates as a connecting hub that uses plugins to allow users to stream content. Cuevana claims not to store files itself, but makes it easy to reach content by linking to external online storage. This method of operation has created a strong debate on the matter of the legality of the operation.^{[4] [5]}

On August 14, 2012, a download option was created, called DCuevana.

As of 2014, cuevana.tv distributed the software Cuevana Storm which, like Popcorn Time, operates as a torrent client that lets downloaders immediately watch a movie while simultaneously uploading it to others.^[6]

The website was placed on the US notorious markets list in 2021.^[7]

Legal instances

• November 22, 2011, HBO Latin America initiated a criminal case against Cuevana and one of its founders Tomas Escobar for alleged violation of Argentine law 11,723 (intellectual property).^{[8] [9]} The judge in the case has decided not to block access to Cuevana.
• November 29, 2011, Turner Argentina obtained an injunction from the Federal Court of First Instance ordered block any user access to the portal Cuevana for the series Falling Skies, BRIC and 26 people to save the world. The measure requires companies that provide Internet web links block that provides the gateway to such series under penalty to impose a fine of 1000 pesos daily.^[10]
• December 2, 2011, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Telecentro SA de Argentina would have completely blocked the entry of customers to the site Cuevana invoking the precautionary measure, the total blockade would not have lasted more than 24 hours.^{[11] [12]}
• In May 2014, German users of Cuevana Storm received demands for damages of 815 Euros from a law firm. Some users thought they were streaming the content rather than distributing it.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: ¿Qué es Cuevana? Cómo usarlo y las películas o series que puede ver. March 29, 2023. Spanish.
2. Web site: Cuevana: el gran invento argentino. Rolling Stone. April 6, 2011. September 28, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20130211022203/http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/1363354-cuevana-el-gran-invento-argentino. February 11, 2013. dead. Spanish.
3. Web site: Cuevana sacude la forma de ver. La Nación. 22 May 2011. September 28, 2011.
4. Web site: El fenómeno Cuevana. El Cronista. March 4, 2011. September 28, 2011.
5. Web site: Todos hablan de Cuevana. Semana. June 4, 2011. September 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811052439/http://www.semana.com/cultura/todos-hablan-cuevana/157911-3.aspx. dead.
6. Web site: Popcorn Time Users Get 'Fined' by Copyright Trolls. torrentfreak.com. May 15, 2014.
7. Web site: 2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy . . 28 February 2022.
8. Web site: HBO demandó a la página de series y filmes Cuevana. Clarín. November 30, 2011. December 4, 2011.
9. Web site: Conti. Juan Pablo. Cuevana: The End?. Rapid TV News. 28 January 2013.
10. Web site: La Justicia pidió bloquear el acceso a series en Cuevana. La Nación. November 29, 2011. December 4, 2011.
11. Web site: Telecentro habría censurado a Cuevana. RedUSERS. December 2, 2011. December 3, 2011.
12. Web site: Telecentro dio marcha atrás con bloqueo a Cuevana. FortunaWeb. December 2, 2011. December 3, 2011.