The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has recently joined the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a content protection coalition dedicated to combating digital piracy. This move marks UEFA as the first sports rights-holder to join ACE, signifying a significant step in the fight against digital piracy in sports.
ACE is an organization led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). It brings together over 50 major entertainment companies and studios in a coordinated effort to combat piracy that threatens the integrity of the digital ecosystem. The current governing board members for ACE include industry giants such as Amazon, Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, executive director of marketing at UEFA, said:
“UEFA joining ACE represents a landmark moment in our global content protection strategy. This partnership allows us to expand our enforcement capabilities, deepen our existing collaboration with industry leaders and leverage ACE’s proven capabilities to disrupt illegal services.”
The alliance's primary objective is to target illegal streaming services and unauthorized content sources while working with law enforcement partners worldwide. Over time, it has achieved numerous global enforcement actions against these illegal operations.
UEFA's active role in ACE’s live tier
As part of its commitment towards combating digital piracy within sports broadcasting rights domain, UEFA will play an active role within ACE’s Live Tier. This tier enhances and coordinates efforts specifically aimed at targeting sports piracy operations.
Members of this tier share real-time intelligence on potential threats or breaches related to their respective domains. They also engage in policy advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening legal frameworks against digital piracy while fostering partnerships with private sector entities and law enforcement agencies globally. This development holds significant implications for both sports fans and those involved in sports betting activities who rely heavily on legitimate broadcasts for their engagement or decision-making processes respectively.
By aligning with other prominent entertainment corporations via the platform of ACE, UEFA is poised to achieve several key objectives. Firstly, it can guarantee that fans are accessing only authorized broadcasts, thereby preserving the authenticity and quality of the sports viewing experience. Secondly, this partnership aids in upholding fair play within betting circles by ensuring all match-related information is derived from legitimate broadcasts. This not only maintains integrity in sports betting but also promotes transparency. Lastly, this move serves to safeguard the financial interests of broadcasters who invest substantial amounts for exclusive broadcasting rights. By curbing digital piracy, UEFA helps ensure these broadcasters receive their due return on investment.
