OSN scores big wins in fight against TV piracy; steps up action to mark World Intellectual Property Day

OSN, the leading pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, has actually scored big wins in its battle versus TV piracy across the region, having doned more than 316 raids with the assistance of government authorities.

Marking the World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) on April 26, OSN is upping the ante in its battle to suppress the threat of TV piracy with collective plans to swoop down on both illegal Dish TV services in addition to the unauthorised distribution of IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services. OSN champs anti-TV piracy by spearheading the Anti-Piracy Coalition with leading satellite service providers.

The director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Francis Gurry, said: "World Intellectual Property Day, is an opportunity to celebrate the creators and innovators who so improve our world, and who are at the base of our cultural and technological advancement. This year our theme for World IP Day is Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined. As we celebrate digital creativity across the world, we need to also consider ways to find the best balance - one which recognizes the significance of creators and innovators to all the development that we see, culturally and technologically, as a consequence of digital technology, while at the same time ensuring the social advantage of widespread access to their works.".

David Butorac, CEO of OSN, stated: "The World IP Day underlines the significance of intellectual property rights which are to be maintained to sustain the development of the creative industry and the home entertainment sector. Through our collective efforts to suppress TV piracy highlighted by our 'Do the Right Thing' campaign, we have actually been taking the lead in safeguarding IP rights with the cooperation of the governmental authorities.".

He added: "Across the area, we see tremendous assistance from the concerned authorities to suppress TV piracy, offered the big loss in income to the state exchequers and the unfavorable impact on the creative industry. Having made substantial financial investments in equipment and training, we are using state-of-the-art technology to keep an eye on all types of TV piracy.".

"We likewise carry out awareness workshops for the authorities in identifying and suppressing TELEVISION piracy. Making sure the IP rights of content companies and developers is 'doing the best thing,' and we urge the public to access legal material and to report any instance of television piracy, to assist protect and drive the development of the area's creative sector.".

OSN signed up with hands with authorities in all GCC nations consisting of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, along with in Egypt and Jordan to conduct the anti-piracy raids. This resulted in a substantial reduction in the illegal distribution of pirated TV services.

In significant wins, numerous unauthorised operators were fined, shops closed and devices seized. More than 86,487 prohibited videos were gotten rid of from YouTube/Dailymotion, and over 2,272 ads of pirated boxes were eliminated from online markets. Even more, 829 FTA (Free to Air) channel copyright infringements were found and reported back to the satellite operators/distributors.

While the battle against prohibited Dish TELEVISION services has actually been stepped up, OSN likewise protected a considerable success in its battle against illegal IPTV services, accomplishing a court conviction against an unlawful provider in Dubai. This marked the very first time a court in the region has issued a conviction on TV piracy including the unlicensed and unauthorised distribution of IPTV services in the UAE.

OSN also stepped up anti-piracy raids in Egypt, performing successful raids against unlawful TELEVISION operators in Cairo and Alexandria.

For more details, go to www.dotherightthingme.com.