Commercial broadcasters have backed the EU’s adoption of an Action Plan on the better enforcement of Intellectual Property.
Under the Plan the Commission has adopted a ‘follow the money” approach, seeking to deprive commercial scale infringers of the revenue flows that draw them into such activities, rather than penalising individuals.
“Piracy and unauthorised distribution of TV content impacts on commercial broadcasters’ ability to invest in the next season of creative, journalistic and sporting programmes,” said Ross Biggam, director-general of the Association of Commercial Television. “We therefore welcome this evidence that the European Commission takes seriously the enforcement of intellectual property rights and we are optimistic that the new tools will over time play a part in decreasing commercial-scale infringement.”
The ACT says around 40% of European commercial broadcasting groups’ revenues are reinvested in programme content, totalling €15 billion a year or €41 million a day.
