Advanced Television

WTO

beIN attacks ‘nonsensical’ Saudi ban

Saudi Arabia says it has permanently terminated the broadcast licence of beIN Sports, which had been barred from broadcasting in the kingdom since mid-2017, over political disputes with Qatar. Saudi’s General Authority for Competition (GAC) said that it was also fining beIN Sports 10 million riyals (€2.34m) for practices “that restrict competition”. GAC’s decision follows […]

July 15, 2020By Colin Mann

Saudis in pirate website crackdown

In a move that may benefit the potential takeover of English Premier League football club Newcastle United by Saudi interests, the kingdom’s IP body, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), has announced its intention to block 231 websites that it says violate regulations and rights. The announcement follows a damning report from the World […]

June 22, 2020By Colin Mann

WTO: Saudi state backed beoutQ piracy

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that the Government of Saudi Arabia has actively promoted and supported the beoutQ pirate operation since the beginning. The WTO’s final judgement – published on June 16th 2020 – declares  Saudi Arabia has wholly breached, and is breaching, its obligations under international law to protect intellectual property rights. […]

June 17, 2020By Colin Mann