This crap has been going on for at least 2 decades.

There are even companies with no connection to the copyrighted item trying to profit by claiming.   About 10 years ago, the EU had several such companies doing this.

Extortion is the best word for it.   They threaten to sue you for massive sums but say they will drop it if you pay several thousand.

I know, it's such a fucking racket out there. Makes me want to be a pirate even more. If they have all this money to try and "break the war on piracy," to not gain any profits (because it's more likely the people they're suing has absolutely no money), then they're making too much money. Fuck them….. I don't feel guilty anymore. No one can afford these prices anymore, and they promote to the poorest communities too.

There are even companies with no connection to the copyrighted item trying to profit by claiming.  About 10 years ago, the EU had several such companies doing this.

Extortion is the best word for it.  They threaten to sue you for massive sums but say they will drop it if you pay several thousand.