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Pay-TV Piracy in Europe and Why Media Piracy is Still a Serious Problem, Growing Throughout the World

March 2011
Intellectual PropertyTelecommunications

Abstract

Precedent in Belgium: For the first time a court sentenced Pay-TV pirates to severe imprisonment and heavy fines – Sky Deutschland will receive over 2 million Euros in damages. A great success. Nevertheless, Europe could soon fall behind, because the methods of the pirates are developing ever faster and the existing EU legislation is barely able to keep pace. Directive 98/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 1998 on the Legal Protection of Services based on, or consisting of, Conditional Access – this is the full title of the European key legislation to protect pay-TV by an own dedicated legal basis.

Author

Portrait image of Christine Maury-Panis
Christine Maury-Panis
EVP, General Counsel and Public Affairs, Viaccess S.A, France

Christine Maury Panis is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Public Affairs Viaccess-Orca. Prior to this role, Christine was legal counsel within the Thomson Consumer Electronics division from 1986 and was focused on the Pay TV activities within the IP section and their newly created licensing entity. Christine was promoted to Deputy General Counsel, Europe for Thomson Multimedia and managed a team of several lawyers. In 1996, Christine moved to CANAL Group to manage the launch of the digital bouquet of CANAL + and helped created CANAL + Technologies which continues to develop, protect and license technologies worldwide. Christine joined Viaccess in 2001 to create the legal and IP department and has been vice presiding the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance, the successor to AEPOC (European Association for the Protection of Encrypted Works and Services) over the last ten years. She has been nominated in the GC Powerlist 2016,d 2018 and 2022 in France http://www.legal500.com/assets/pages/cc100/2016/france-16.html) and has been appointed by the European Intellectual Property Office as a specialist to raise awareness on IP within the European Union and as technology expert.

Company

Viaccess S.A logo

Viaccess S.A

Viaccess-Orca is a leading global solutions provider of OTT and TV platforms, content protection, and advanced data solutions for a personalized TV experience. The company offers an extensive range of innovative, proven, and best-of-breed solutions for content delivery, protection, discovery, and monetization. With over 20 years of industry leadership, Viaccess-Orca helps content providers and TV operators shape a smarter and safer TV and OTT experience. Viaccess-Orca is part of the Orange Group and the company’s solutions have been deployed in over 35 countries, reaching more than 40 million subscribers. For more information, visit www.viaccess-orca.com or follow the company on Twitter @ViaccessOrca and LinkedIn.

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