BeIn Media Group is leading a group of major US sports leagues, studios and international broadcasters mading detailed public submissions to US Trade Representative as theft of world sport and entertainment spreads.
In a major show of force against the continued daily theft of world sport and entertainment by the Saudi Arabia-backed pirate operation “beoutQ”, a host of leading US sports and entertainment bodies, trade associations, and international broadcasters have made submissions to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) demanding that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia be identified as a Priority Foreign Country or be placed on the Priority Watch List, as a result of the country’s continued support of the boldest and most sophisticated pattern of broadcast piracy that the world has ever seen.
The USTR, part of the Executive Office of the US President, is the agency responsible for advancing United States trade policy and resolving disputes with countries that do not follow the rules of international trade agreements.
In its submission to the US Government, BeIn Media Group and Miramax said: “Saudi Arabia has permitted, and indeed facilitated, the operation within its territory of the boldest, most sophisticated pattern of broadcast piracy that the world has ever seen – piracy that continues to spread around the globe. While such piracy was initially focused on sports content (including US sports content), it has since expanded to cover the most popular movies and television programming in the world, much of which is produced in the United States.
“While the Saudi Government could easily put an end to the widespread piracy emanating from within its borders, it has chosen not to do so. As a result, the economic damage to beIN, its rights holders, and the international sports and entertainment industries continues to grow each day. If allowed to continue unchecked, beoutQ will serve as a model for other pirates to imitate in markets around the world, with dire consequences for the media and entertainment industry that will persist long after beoutQ has disappeared.”
