Call to shut down Saudi pirate sport channel 'beout Q'

[HARDY]

beIN Media Group, together with leading sporting organisations and broadcasters, have called for a pirate broadcaster operating as ‘beout Q’ to shut down its unauthorised platforms that are broadcasting beIN Sports’ proprietary media content in Saudi Arabia.

The sports and entertainment network has joined forces with some of the world’s biggest rights holders, including UEFA and LaLiga, as well as an anti-piracy body, the Audio visual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA), to call for ‘beout Q’ to cease all of its operations immediately.

beIN Media Group has notified the Saudi authorities of this unlawful use of its content and has requested that the Saudi government take immediate action to investigate and prevent the unauthorised use of beIN’s media content by ‘beout Q’ or any other unauthorised channels in Saudi Arabia. beIN Media Group holds the exclusive rights to broadcast prestigious major leagues, tournaments and events in the Mena region, which is testament to the strength of its long-standing relationships with major rights holders, as well as the quality of its coverage.

Any attempt to broadcast beIN Sports’ media content without permission is both unacceptable and unlawful in all jurisdictions. beIN Media Group’s legal team is investigating the pirated IP TV broadcast of its channels and exploring all legal remedies available.

Commenting on this unlawful use of its proprietary media content, Yousef al-Obaidly, deputy chief executive officer at beIN Media Group, said: “The broadcast by ‘ beout Q’ contravenes both Saudi and international law on intellectual property rights. We hope that the Saudi authorities will honour Saudi domestic laws, and Saudi Arabia’s international legal obligations, including those under the TRIPS Agreement, to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights to the full extent. We are pursuing all available legal options to ensure our and our rights holders ‘intellectual property rights are respected. We are committed to providing all of our customers with the highest quality access to the latest and greatest global sporting events.”

Guy Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA, said: “UEFA fully supports the beIN Media Group in taking action against illegal streaming in all relevant territories including Mena in order to stop piracy the infringement of UEFA s intellectual property.”

Melcior Soler, director of audio visual of LaLiga added: “LaLiga actively works against piracy of LaLiga content worldwide and fully supports our right holders in fighting against illegal broadcast. We shall assist beIN Media Group, our exclusive right holder in the Mena territories, to avoid the unauthorised broadcast of LaLiga matches by ‘beout Q’.”

Sheila Cassells, executive director of AAPA said: “As a valued member of our alliance, we were shocked to hear from beIN about this illegitimate broadcast of the company’s legal content in Saudi Arabia.

“We urge the authorities there to be strident and expeditious in upholding both international norms on intellectual property, and also Saudi Arabia’s own law, which this directly contravenes. beIN Media Group is a trusted partner to dozens of sporting organisations around the world thanks to its long-standing relationships and the quality of its coverage.”