The Web sites were among the most popular on the Internet for illegally distributing copyrighted sporting events ICE stated. It is estimated that each year, sports leagues and broadcasters lose millions of dollars from illegally distributing copyrighted, live sporting events over the Internet. Such piracy threatens the investment that broadcasters and digital media companies are willing to make to distribute live content, ICE stated.

ICE said its counterfeit busts during the last three Super Bowls have nabbed more than 30,000 items with an estimated value of nearly $2.8 million. Those amounts, coupled with the 2011 record-breaking results of "Operation Interception," ICE HSI has seized more than 66,000 counterfeit items worth $6.36 million over the past four years.

Follow Michael Cooney on : nwwlayer8

in Network World's Wide Area Network section.