Copyright Issues, TV Rights In Sports Broadcasting And Streaming

One way or the other we have all benefited from advanced communication technologies which have revolutionised the television broadcasting of sports which has enabled billions to follow sporting events.

- Chanakya Jayadeva

Television and media organisations pay much money for the exclusive rights to broadcast sporting events. On the other hand selling of broadcasting and media rights is one of the biggest sources of revenue generators with regarding to sporting events. The daunting task in the sports broadcast industry faces is to safeguard these costly investments in televising sporting events, recognizing entrepreneurial efforts of broadcasting organisations and recognising their contribution to diffusion of information and culture.

Two major issues revolve around sports broadcasting at present. Issues known as copyright on neighboring rights or related rights on one hand and on the other hand signal piracy especially owing to social media and new media issues which affect television rights.

THE LAW

The laws that govern international broadcasting comes under the International Convention for the Protection of Performers Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations (Rome Convention) of 1961, Trips Agreement ( similar provisions), Domestic Copyright laws applicable on sports and broadcasting and the decided case law. The Rome convention protects the Broadcasters right called the neighbouring right. Neighbouring right is a separate exclusive right which is essential to broadcasters which gives remedy against the unauthorised use of their broadcast signals.

The usual protection under Copyright extends only to expression of ideas. Copyright in its culture is constructed to deal with author’s supremacy and branches out to the two prone claim viz economic rights, and moral rights.