The Protection of Sports Events in the EU Property, Intellectual Property, Unfair Competition and Special Forms of Protection

Description

This article explores the legal mechanisms available to protect sporting events under EU and Member State laws, especially in light of the ECJ’s ruling that sports events are not protected by copyright alone. It examines how sports organizers rely on property rights, contracts, intellectual property, unfair competition laws, and special national protections to safeguard their interests. The piece argues that while EU law lacks a unified right specific to sports events, existing legal tools, such as venue control, broadcasting rights, and anti-misappropriation rules, provide sufficient protection. It also highlights that the only area requiring distinct legal attention is the right to authorize betting on sports event data.