Arcom welcomed an agreement between internet service providers and holders of sports competition broadcast rights to fight against illegal broadcasts.
An agreement aimed at combating pirate broadcasts of sports competitions was concluded on Wednesday January 18 between the four major internet service providers in France and the holders of sports rights, announced the audiovisual regulator, Arcom.
Automation of blocking measures
“Arcom, the Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS) and the French Telecoms Federation (FFTélécoms, Orange, Bouygues Télécom and SFR) to which the Iliad group is joining, welcome the signing of an agreement between the four main internet service providers and the APPS aiming to strengthen the fight against the illicit distribution of online sports content”, indicates Arcom in a press release.
Concretely, the parties have agreed on “good practices in judicial matters but also on the assumption of the costs of the automation of the blocking measures notified by Arcom on referral to the beneficiaries”, continues the regulator.
For the past year – under the anti-piracy law adopted in September 2021 and effective in 2022 – Arcom has received 85 referrals from sports rights holders relating to ten sports competitions. Nearly 1300 illegal sites have been blocked.
An important step for content protection
“The conclusion of this agreement is the culmination of real teamwork which is now intended to continue, to anticipate the evolution of uses, protect rights and allow their fair remuneration”, welcomed Roch-Olivier Maistre. , president of Arcom, quoted in the press release.
“This signature marks an important step for the protection of sports content in France on which the members of the APPS, bringing together both broadcasters and rights holders, have been able to build and perpetuate their agreement”, added Maxime Saada, president of the ‘APPS, also quoted in the statement.
On March 17, the court of law of Paris notably ordered the blocking by French internet service providers of access to IPTV services (internet television) illegally offering the live broadcast of sports matches.
