Blog Post

AEPOC says TV manufacturers need to secure content

AAPA

20th April 2011

Television manufacturers that are beginning to take a direct role in the delivery of content need to ensure they are adequately dealing with security issues.

In her first media interview since becoming the executive director of the European Association for the Protection of Encrypted Works and Services (AEPOC), Sheila Cassells told Broadband TV News it was paramount that content was provided securely.

“I know from the discussions that are going on that this is an area that everybody has seized on. The question will be whether the manufacturers that have argued for single solutions in the past, propose that in some markets again. Having a single DRM solution is not necessarily the safest way to do business.” Cassells said there were already talks in progress between broadcasters and manufacturers and platform operators about how to secure the content, alongside rules for overlays and metadata. “The pay-TV model based on conditional access has been successful in securing content. What we need to do is ensure that connected TV manufacturers also have security at the heart of their product and service design and deployments.”

Cassells said that work was also being done within the European High Definition Forum, which had progressed onto issues including 3D and connected TV, now that HD deployments were well underway.

Insiders say that Cassells and the team of Chairman Philippe-Olivier Rousseau and VPs Christine Maury-Panis (Viaccess) and Michael Barley (BSkyB) have brought a new energy to AEPOC, using standing committees to ensure progress on issues.

There remains a series of ongoing issues, such as the recent opinion from the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that broadcasters cannot stop people from buying cheaper foreign satellite packages. The case was sparked by the Portsmouth landlady that has been using a subscription to the Greek Nova platform rather than pay Sky’s retail charges.

Cassells said the opinion appears to suggest that if Member States had national laws preventing the sale of cards where addresses had been falsely given then the current arrangements would prevail. A final ruling – which may not necessarily follow the Advocate General’s opinion – may still be several months away.

“If the opinion was endorsed by the Court this could mean that the current arrangements for licensing rights, including conditional access licensing, would change dramatically,” said Cassells. “The question then becomes how do you license rights, what are the terms of CA agreements, and on the face of it you wouldn’t be able to do that on a territorial basis.”

There is also the European Commission’s consultation on the enforcement directive that centres on intellectual property rights (IPR). AEPOC wants to stress the importance of harmonisation and effective implementation across the EU.

“The Commission recognises that digital distribution is a fast moving area and that they need to try and make sure the legislation can keep pace. They also recognise that they are not doing that,” she says. “We need to ensure also that the Commission rigorously assesses the implications for piracy of any new legislation and policy initiatives. Educating and informing the Member States, including their customs authorities, becomes hugely important. What we’re talking about here is a global issue and we would encourage the Commission to look for other instruments to help them tackle the issue”.

AEPOC is planning to intensify work with other groups such as CASBAA (Cable And Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia), particularly on areas like card sharing and working with local enforcement agencies.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2011/04/20/exclusive-aepoc-says-tv-manufacturers-need-to-secure-content/

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AAPA Honours Law Enforcement Agencies with Annual Awards for Excellence in Copyright Enforcement

by AAPA • 19 December 2024

Date, Brussels, Belgium The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) is proud to announce the recipients of its annual awards, celebrating exceptional contributions by law enforcement agencies in combatting online piracy and protecting intellectual property in the audiovisual sector. This year’s honorees have demonstrated exemplary efforts in the investigation, enforcement, and dismantling of illegal content distribution networks that undermine the creative industries. The AAPA Annual Awards recognize agencies whose proactive strategies and collaborative actions have significantly advanced copyright enforcement online. These awards reflect the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing the evolving and sophisticated tactics used by piracy networks. Oliver Pribramsky, Co-President of AAPA , praised the recipients of the awards, saying: "We are honoured to recognise the outstanding work of these administrative and law enforcement agencies. Online piracy remains one of the most significant challenges facing the audiovisual industry, costing billions in lost revenue each year and threatening jobs across the sector. The dedication and innovation displayed by our award winners not only protect the industry but also reinforce the critical role that law enforcement plays in safeguarding intellectual property in the digital age." Award Recipients This year’s AAPA Awards for Excellence in Copyright Enforcement are presented to: 1. Lifetime achievement Award for Sheila Cassells: On behalf of all AAPA members and stakeholders from all spectrums of the industry, we would like to thank Sheila for her loyalty and friendship over the last 14 years where she transformed AAPA into the organisation it is today and honour her remarkable achievements and lifelong dedication to the fight against audiovisual piracy with this Lifetime Achievement Award.

AAPA MEMBERS JOIN FORCES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST-EVER OPERATION AGAINST AUDIOVISUAL PIRACY

by AAPA • 27 November 2024

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) has supported the Catania Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Croatian State Attorney Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime and law enforcement agencies in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Croatia and England in dismantling the world’s largest transnational criminal organisation alleged to be serving pirated audiovisual content to over 22 million users, and generating over 250 million euros in illegal revenue per month. The operation, conducted yesterday, was coordinated by Europol and Eurojust and involved over 270 officers from the Polizia Postale carrying out 89 property searches in 15 Italian regions. An additional 14 searches were conducted by law enforcement agencies abroad, including five addresses in England, and further searches and seizures in the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, France, Bulgaria, Germany and Croatia. 11 people were arrested by the Cybercrime Division of the Croatian Police. During yesterday's searches, cryptocurrencies in excess of EUR 1,650,000 and cash in excess of EUR 40,000 were seized as alleged proceeds of the offences committed. These immediately seized proceeds represent only a fraction of an illegal business that is alleged to yield approximately EUR 3 billion per annum. Digital piracy harms the entertainment and creative industries across the continent and is often run by sophisticated criminal networks that may use their profits to fund other serious forms of criminal activity. At the same time, illegal streams can expose the end user to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware. Mark Mulready, Co-president of AAPA, said: “We applaud the efforts of the Catania Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Croatian State Attorney Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime, Europol, Eurojust, and all of the law enforcement agencies involved in these operations. The scale of these multi-jurisdictional law enforcement actions highlights the considerable challenge our industry faces when dealing with such sophisticated international pirate networks. We are proud to have collaborated with our law enforcement partners to provide technical training and in-field support to assist them in successfully tackling the world’s largest pirate network. We are very grateful to the AAPA members who supported this action day, including Premier League, Sky Group, Nagravision, Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), beIN Sports, United Media, Friend MTS and Irdeto. We will continue to closely collaborate with law enforcement agencies in Europe and beyond to enable them to successfully identify, investigate and prosecute large-scale cross-border pirate networks.” ---------- AAPA contact: Mark Mulready +31651246415 Co-President AAPA Miranda Rock +44 7957 391 498 Rocket Launch for AAPA

Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance 2024-2029 EU Manifesto

by AAPA • 1 October 2024

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) publishes its first Manifesto, linked here . The document aims to recognise past efforts of EU legislators when it comes to content protection and the fight against copyright infringement, whilst admitting that more can and should be done to address this growing issue. Miruna Herovanu, Executive Director of AAPA said : " After years of laying the groundwork to combat online piracy it’s time for EU policymakers and beyond to fully acknowledge that decisive, targeted measures are needed at the European level. The rise of digital theft demands action. We call for strong political resolve to end the theft of our members' content. We're ready to support every stakeholder—law enforcement, policymakers, and industry representatives—to dismantle criminal networks and protect European consumers from harm."

AAPA ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

by AAPA • 28 May 2024

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) has announced the appointment of Miruna Herovanu as its Executive Director. Miruna was previously the Director at the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand in Europe in charge of Intellectual Property and Competition policies. She took up her position with AAPA on 27 May 2024 and will be based in Brussels. Miruna will replace Sheila Cassells who is retiring as Executive Vice President of AAPA and will report on a day-to-day basis to the two Co-Presidents, Mark Mulready, VP of Cyber Services at Irdeto and Oliver Pribramksy, Head of IP Protection and Committees at the Deutsche Fussball Liga. She will be responsible for the implementation of the strategy agreed by AAPA members, managing relationships with law enforcement agencies such as Europol, Eurojust, INTERPOL and the European Institutions, delivery of AAPA’s Working Group goals and general management of the Alliance. Mark Mulready said that: “We are delighted to appoint someone of Miruna’s calibre and experience to become the Executive Director of AAPA. Miruna’s commitment to copyright protection is well-known. Her knowledge of the Brussels institutions and the EUIPO will stand AAPA in good stead for future policy developments. A priority will be for Miruna to work closely with AAPA members, the EUIPO and the European Institutions to deliver on, inter alia, the goals of combatting online piracy of sports and other live events recommendation.” Miruna Herovanu commented that: “My professional experience demonstrated that piracy is an ever-growing issue that eats at the heart of Europe’s most important industries. This is a golden opportunity and a new professional challenge that will help further develop my passion for and commitment to protecting copyright. Being able to work with and support industry experts and practitioners in AAPA, law enforcement, the European Institutions and other trade associations is essential to the fight against piracy. I am excited to be taking on this role.”