Protecting live sport: the EUIPO, SROC and members of the European Parliament continue to engage in anti-piracy efforts

The Sports Rights Owners Coalition (SROC), of which LALIGA is a member, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and members of the European Parliament met in Madrid, highlighting the importance of strengthening the dialogueand continuing collaboration in the fight against piracy. 

The purpose of the meeting was to share relevant information on how the illegal distribution of sports content is carried out and how business models surrounding this criminal activity operate. Additionally, SROC proposed solutions to address this issue, particularly advocating for the adoption of a regulatory instrument by the European Union that would require certain intermediaries to immediately remove illicit live content or, at the latest, during its live broadcast. This obligation would help tackle piracy of live content, which demands immediate action from intermediaries to protect its economic value.

João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO, stated: “Live event piracy is evolving —becoming more sophisticated, more widespread, and more damaging. Our response must evolve too. Today, we have the opportunity to assess the challenges ahead and strengthen our collective efforts to safeguard the integrity of live sports.”

Mark Lichtenhein, SROC Chairman said: “The absence of any legally binding remedies is not only highly damaging to the business of sport but is allowing an unhindered black market for organised crime to flourish. It is therefore more urgent than ever that the rule of law is properly applied in this area.” 

Maravillas Abadía, MEP and deputy coordinator of the European People’s Party in the Legal Affairs Committee, added: “It is a priority for us to promote a legislative framework that balances technological innovation with the protection of rights holders of sporting events. This industry is a vital component of our culture and traditions, as well as a key driver of our economy. Therefore, we are committed to working towards effective solutions to combat live piracy.”

Meanwhile, Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, a member organization of SROC, detailed: “Piracy is a scourge that can only be eradicated through joint efforts and a shared perspective. Working sessions like today’s, with key players from the European sports and audiovisual landscape, are the way forward in tackling what is currently the greatest threat to the football industry.”

This meeting is part of SROC’s ongoing collaboration with the EUIPO and its European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights. The Observatory is conducting an assessment of the effectiveness of Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/1018 of May 4, 2023, on combating online piracy of sports and other live events. Several SROC members, including LALIGA, are contributing data on the removal times of reported illicit content, the types of intermediaries receiving these reports from sports event organizers, and other live content-related insights.