Spain It is, only after Bulgaria and Greece, the third EU country where the highest percentage of the population used illegal online sources last year to follow sports broadcasts, with 19 percent, more seven points higher than the community average of 12.
According to the latest report on piracy issued by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO in its acronym in English and based in Alicante), in the age group of 15 to 24 years this rate reaches 42 per hundred and Spain is only lower in Bulgarians, when the European average in this age group is 27 percent.
The Euroagency warns that when money is involved and millions of viewers and consumers are involved, fraudsters can seize the opportunity to profit, for example, through illegal online streaming affecting all types of content, including sporting events.
The aforementioned streaming or live broadcast is the most popular way to access prohibited television content, with 58 percent of cases, and 32 by downloading, a phenomenon that has a direct impact on events sports.
As in broadcasting, Spanish youth are third in Europe, tied with Latvians, in buying intentionally fake sports equipment online, with 13 percent (the European average is 10), contributing to Spain is the fifth community in the country with the most losses in this chapter. : 84.07 million euros, representing 12.5 percent of total annual sales in the EU.
The EUIPO report highlighted that one of the largest police operations against counterfeits in Europe, the so-called ‘Fake Star’ and led by the Spanish National Police in collaboration with the Greek police, resulted in 264 arrests and blocking counterfeit products. worth 8 million euros.
8 million fake sporting goods
At the European level, law enforcement authorities have found and seized 8 million counterfeit sporting goods with an estimated retail value of €120 million. These illegal products also pose a serious threat to the health of consumers by not complying with European regulations on health, safety and environmental protection.
In the words of EUIPO’s executive director, the Portuguese João Negrão, “it is important to play fair, both for the athletes on the field of play and for the spectators at home” because “the intellectual and industrial rights that property behind these events protect and enhance the fan experience, support athletes and inspire future European and world champions.
In addition to the rights to broadcast important sporting events, intellectual property (IP) is everywhere, the EUIPO recalled, referring to the emblematic Olympic rings and the names of the most famous athletes on competitors’ sports equipment, mascots and official souvenirs. of these events.
According to the European IP Office, piracy generates illegal income worth €1 billion a year, an amount that affects the financing of sport because the income generated by intellectual property rights is again distributed among sports and athletes based on unity.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
