An agreement aimed at combating pirated broadcasts of sports competitions was signed on Wednesday, January 18, between the four main Internet service providers in France and sports rights holders, audiovisual regulator Arcom announced.
Automation of blocking measures
“Arcom, the Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS) and the French Telecommunications Federation (FFTélécoms, Orange, Bouygues Télécom and SFR) to which the Iliad group joins, welcome the signing of an agreement between the four main providers of Internet services and APPS with the aim of strengthening the fight against the illegal distribution of sports content online,” Arcom said in a press release.
Specifically, the parties have agreed on “good practices in judicial matters but also in the assumption of the costs of automating the blocking measures notified by Arcom in referral to the beneficiaries,” continues the regulator.
Over the past year, under the anti-piracy law adopted in September 2021 and effective in 2022, Arcom received 85 referrals from sports rights holders in relation to ten sports competitions. Almost 1,300 illegal sites have been blocked.
An important step for content protection
“This signing marks an important step for the protection of sports content in France on which APPS members, who bring together both broadcasters and rights holders, have been able to build and perpetuate their agreement,” Maxime added. Saada, president of the ‘ APPS, also cited in the statement.
On March 17, the Paris court ordered French Internet service providers to block access to IPTV (Internet television) services that illegally offer live streaming of sports matches.
Source: BFM TV
