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Sport, Intellectual Property Rights, and Competition Law - Chapter 13 - International Antitrust Law & Policy: Fordham Corporate Law 2004
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International Antitrust Law & Policy: Fordham Corporate Law 2004 - Hardcover International Antitrust Law & Policy: Fordham Corporate Law 2004 - PDF ___________________________________________________________________________________ Preview Page Chapter 13
SPORT, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
AND COMPETITION LAW
Guy Leigh†
I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Commercialisation of Sport
Sport is not a sector that has traditionally been beset by competition
law concerns. In recent years, however, it has attracted ever closer scrutiny
from both national and supranational competition authorities throughout
Europe. The reasons are not hard to find.
Sports media rights have become very big business, especially those
surrounding the major football leagues. For example, the TV revenues
from the FIFA World Cup have risen from $66 million in 1994 (USA) to
$782 million in 2002 (Japan/Korea). Similarly, the live rights package for
the English FA Premier League has risen from a net value of £38 million
per year in 1992, to £366 million per year by 2001. The same pattern can be
seen in relation to other major sporting events. For example, in the case of
the Olympics the revenue derived from the sale of broadcasting rights has
risen exponentially from £101 million in 1980 (Moscow), to £636 million in
1992 (Barcelona), and £1,498 million in 2004 (Athens).1 Similarly, British
horseracing generated global income of approximately £89m in 2000 from
the sale of pictures and data, and the comparable 2004 figures are forecast
to be in the region of £150m - £160m.2
Professional sports are jostling for position in the limelight, both in
relation to broadcasting content and generally. In order to attract ever
increasing broadcasting, sponsorship and other revenues, sports have to
About the Editor:
Barry Hawk, Director, Fordham Corporate Law Institute; Professor of Law, Fordham University and Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom (New York and Brussels)
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