The MENA Broadcast Satellite Anti-Piracy Coalition has celebrated the shutting down of 30 Arabic and western pirate TV channels since the summer in their latest meeting. Another 26 other channels have recently stopped violating copyrights.
The coalition’s 11th meeting in Amsterdam, attended by the region’s major broadcasters and satellite providers, hailed measures taken by members in the ongoing efforts against TV piracy between April and September 2017.
MBC Group CEO, Sam Barnett, said during the meeting: “With this latest series of actions, the satellite broadcast industry in the region has effectively cleansed itself of the piracy scourge that has been damaging us since 2012. This has only happened because of the effective collaboration of producers, broadcasters and satellite operators.” He continued, “Even last week we have heard news of Egyptian film producers signing new deals with legitimate TV stations – deals that previously would not have happened due to piracy. This is a big boost for the sector.”
The Coalition also reaffirmed its commitment to remain fully engaged in protecting content against illegal satellite distribution, and agreed to widen its focus to IPTV and OTT piracy.
Guillaume Forbin, OSN Head of Platform & Content Security, detailed the latest industry research showing IPTV piracy still growing heavily.
Sophie Moloney, OSN Chief Legal Officer, said: “This is another great achievement for the coalition. With the growing threat from illegal internet-based piracy threats and emerging methods for pirating content, the strength and unity of the MENA Broadcast Anti-Piracy Coalition in conjunction with collaborations with local authorities is increasingly important. OSN is grateful to Noorsat for their efforts in removing the pirated channels over the past months; we look forward to a long and sustainable partnership in the ongoing battle for content protection.”
Members of the Coalition also discussed the growing threat from illegal internet streaming and downloads, and agreed to work together in order to strengthen their relationship with authorities in his context.
Okke Delfos Visser, Head of the Legal Department of the MPA in Europe and the Middle East and Africa, stated that “we need to build on the great successes achieved by the coalition so far. We now need to solidify our efforts in tackling satellite piracy and open a new front into online, such as IPTV and illicit streaming device piracy.”
In a joint commitment, the Coalition members also agreed to collaborate and develop an online site-blocking IPTV strategy.
Etisalat Senior Manager for Mobile and Satellite Products, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Jasmi, revealed the existence of an IP blocking tool in coordination with the authorities within the UAE and promised their full commitment towards the coalition.
Intellectual Property (IP) Specialist, Office of the U.S. IP Attaché for the Middle East and North Africa, Raed Al Hout participated in the meeting and shared that “we will continue coordinating with relevant IP enforcement agencies, including the U.S. National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in supporting the important work of the MENA Broadcast Satellite Anti-Piracy Coalition, and look forward to building upon our collaborative endeavors in future initiatives.”
The coalition was set up in 2014, bringing together major broadcast satellite providers, (Eutelsat, Arabsat, Nilesat, Noorsat, Gulfsat, Viewsat, STN and JMC) and content production, distribution companies and telecommunication (MBC, OSN, Rotana, ART, CNE, Du, Etisalat, Mediagates, My HD, Paramount, Rdatv, Sony pictures, Warner bros, Universal, WWE, Sound & light and cinema, International advertising association, Cedars art, Eagle films, Almassa art production, Egyptian Chamber of cinema industry, Media production city, Misr international films, Spot 2000, and the MPA) to fight the battle of piracy.
(Source: MBC press release)