Copyright and Sport Broadcasting: New Challenges in the Era of Live Streaming

Abstract

This research is dedicated to the analysis of problematic aspects of copyright protection of sports events in the era of live streaming technologies. The Master Thesis evaluate the requirements for copyright protection in the EU level and analyse whether sports events as such, audiovisual recording and broadcasting of sports events are protected by copyright or neighbouring rights in the EU and in its Member States. The main legal gap is found in the absence of copyright protection for sports events organizers in case of illegal live streaming of sports events from dedicated venues. It is stated that such situation imposes difficulties for the rightholders in removing infringement content from live streaming services. The Master Thesis concludes and recommends to adopt new EU neighbouring right for sports events organizer over their events and to introduce new European notice-and-take-down system for the faster removal of illegal content online.