Key updates on copyright protection and enforcement for sports media rightsholders

2017/18 has seen a number of significant developments in copyright law at both a UK and European level. This article considers the effect that some of the significant judicial decisions and legislative changes will have on the way sports rights holders protect and enforce their rights. Specifically, it looks at:

• How case law from the past year has increased the number of potential defendants who might now be regarded as being liable for acts of primary copyright infringement by virtue of communicating works to the public;
• The way in which ISP blocking injunctions have been adapted and advanced in order to provide greater protection to rightsholders in terms of preventing infringement of their copyright works online; and
• The potential effects of increased criminal sanctions for online copyright infringement.