Uefa, European football’s governing body, issued a request for proposals today (Monday) for anti-piracy services to protect its main competitions.
It is looking to appoint one or more internet service providers to provide monitoring and enforcement services in respect of live and non-live piracy.
The successful bidder(s) may also provide proposals for the provision of expertise and services that are ancillary to the core monitoring and enforcement services.
The rights-holder said: “Uefa takes the protection of its intellectual property rights, as well as the interests of its media partners, very seriously.”
The RFP relates specifically to the risk of piracy around the following competitions: Euro 2024; European Qualifiers for Euro 2024 and the 2026 Fifa World Cup; the next two editions of the Uefa Nations League and Nations League finals; the Champions League and Uefa Super Cup for the 2021-24 cycle; and the Europa League and Europa Conference League for the 2021-24 cycle.
Interested parties are required to submit proposals no later than 12:00 CET on September 4.
Sports piracy has been a key industry concern in recent years, with a plethora of pirate services operating worldwide, including beoutQ.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled in June that Saudi Arabia actively promoted and supported beoutQ in contravention of the country’s obligations under international law to protect intellectual property rights.
A group of eight major rights-holders, comprising Fifa, Uefa, the AFC and Europe’s top five football leagues, had previously tried and failed to take legal action against beoutQ in the Saudi Arabian courts.