Africa
World sports bodies raise concern over Kenya copyright bill
![World Sports Bodies raise Concern Over Kenya Copyright Bill](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/pap.png)
The Kenya Copyright Board (KeCOBO) champion of the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative, has come out in support of the SROC letter
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 15, 2022/ — A coalition of global sports bodies has written an open letter to the Kenyan government, expressing concern about the Copyright Amendment Bill currently before parliament, and its potential impact on the availability of international sports content in Kenya.
The Sports Rights Owner Coalition (SROC) is an alliance of more than 50 international and national sport bodies, representing some of the world’s leading sport codes and competitions â including the English Premier League, the FA Cup, Wimbledon, MotoGP, and the Rugby World Cup.
In the recent letter, signed by Chairman Mark Lichtenstein, the SROC says its members are “extremely concerned” at changes that will be made to Kenya’s Copyright Act if the Copyright Amendment Bill becomes law.
The SROC is particularly worried about proposals to repeal sections 35B, 35C and 35D of the Copyright Act, which allow for take-down notices issued to internet-based service provider platforms which enable content piracy to flourish.
A take-down notice is a widely used remedy employed by copyright owners worldwide, compelling online platforms to rapidly remove content from their websites if it is suspected that the content infringes copyright.
The Kenya Copyright Board (KeCOBO) champion of the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative, has come out in support of the SROC letter.
“Take-down notices are a critical tool for copyright holders and related rights holders to fight digital content piracy by controlling the distribution and economic viability of their work and how it is accessed online,” says Edward Sigei, KeCOBO Executive Director.
“Across the world, they help to safeguard the intellectual property rights of sports rights owners. If rights owners cannot request that pirated sports content is taken down immediately, that will threaten the future of live sports broadcasts in Kenya. Why would international sports media allow sports broadcasts in Kenya, if they have no way of stopping them from being pirated!”
Kenya’s 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, incorporates principles from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties of 1996, aimed at preventing unauthorised access to and use of creative works. Takedown notices are among these principles and are necessary tools to enforce copyright protections for rights owners and distributors.
If the Amendment Bill is passed into law, Kenya will be out of step with global trends, the average Kenyan will lose out on great sports entertainment. A further negative consequence of this Amendment Bill passing would be the reputational and economic investment quagmire it would create is jeopardising Kenya’s ability to renew participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Agreement (AGOA) program, as one of the additional provisions of renewal requires a demonstrated commitment to copyright protection as a prerequisite to signing. Repealing section 35 of the Copyright Act, would do the exact opposite and threaten investor confidence.
The SROC points out that in Europe, policy makers are strengthening not weakening the effectiveness of take-down notices, particularly regarding live content. New proposals to protect live content more effectively in Europe are expected in the first half of 2022.
“Were the Copyright Amendment Bill to be enacted, it could have devastating consequences for both the Kenyan economy and Kenyan consumers,” says the SROC letter. “Rights holders from sport and other creative industries are extremely unlikely to license their content in a jurisdiction that effectively legitimises piracy. Consumers would therefore be deprived from watching their favourite sports and television shows, and leave Kenya isolated on the global copyright stage.”
The coalition â which includes the English FA, UEFA, the IAAF, and the International Tennis Federation â goes on to ask that the proposed new law be urgently reconsidered “so as not to harm Kenyan consumers and threaten the availability of sports and entertainment content in Kenya.”
Africa
CSA Appoints IMG ARENA as Official Data Supplier and Betting Live Streaming Partner
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6-11.jpg)
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced IMG ARENA, OpenBetâs sports data and streaming products arm, as its exclusive official Cricket South Africa Data Supplier and Betting Live Streaming Partner.
IMG ARENA, in partnership with CricViz, will collect detailed data, both live and in-venue, for CSAâs domestic and international matches spanning a wide array of competitions, from bilateral series to domestic leagues.
Data for international matches will be gathered across Menâs and Womenâs Test, ODI, and T20I formats, while domestic matches will see data collection for Menâs 4-day, 50 Over and T20, as well as the Womenâs 50 Over and T20 formats. The data will then be distributed by IMG ARENA to more than 460 regulated sportsbook operators worldwide. IMG ARENA will also distribute live streams of CSA matches to the global betting industry.
Mark Wrigley, Vice President & Head of Rights at IMG ARENA, said: âIMG ARENA is serving fans and sportsbook operators across a wide breadth of sports and markets around the world. Alongside CricViz, weâre excited to partner with Cricket South Africa to bring fans the ultimate sportsbook experience incorporating reliable, informed data and live streaming.â
CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, said: âOur partnership with IMG ARENA is poised to revolutionise the way detailed data is collected, both live and in-venue. This collaborative endeavour will introduce South African cricket to a fresh betting audience, and we are extremely excited about this opportunity. We are collectively shaping the future of sports data collection and broadcasting, setting new standards of excellence in the industry.â
The deal further diversifies IMG ARENAâs portfolio of data and streaming rights, adding CSA to its breadth of sports properties including soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, mixed martial arts and more.
Africa
Booming Games Enters South African Market in Partnership with Intelligent Gaming
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Booming-Games-Enters-South-African-Market-in-Partnership-with-Intelligent-G_20240711_151524_0000.png)
Booming Games, a leading slot provider, is extremely pleased to announce the launch of their highly immersive games for the South Africa online gaming market.
The South African online gaming market is renowned as one of the worldâs most exciting emerging regulated markets. Booming Games, in collaboration with Intelligent Gaming South Africa, has successfully completed localization testing and certification. The company extends its gratitude to Intelligent Gaming for their dedicated efforts in helping achieve this milestone. With this accomplishment, Booming Games eagerly anticipates distributing its innovative and engaging games across the entire Intelligent Gaming network.
Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: “South Africa is key to our development goals, so itâs exciting to get on board with a partner such as Intelligent Gaming. Their insight and experience in South Africa are essential, and weâre thoroughly looking forward to working with them”.
Marc Plaxton Harrison, Managing Director at Intelligent Gaming, said: “Itâs such an exciting suite of games, and our network is very excited about the launch. In the coming weeks, our network of over 30 popular operators will be able to offer fantastic games like Buffalo Hold and Win, Burning Classics Go Wild, Gold Gold Gold, TNT Bonanza, Cash Pig and Flaming Chilies”.
Africa
Springbok Casino Showcases Winter Survival Strategies of South Africaâs Wildlife in âMzansiâs Winter Wondersâ Feature
![Springbok Casino Showcases Winter Survival Strategies of South Africaâs Wildlife in âMzansiâs Winter Wondersâ Feature](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SB-July-feature-image.png)
This July, Springbok Casino invites all players to celebrate âMzansi’s Winter Wondersâ, a tribute to South Africa’s incredible wildlife and their unique adaptations to the winter season. From gentle elephants to resilient rhinos, these stories highlight the incredible behaviors and survival strategies of ten animals during the colder months.
Lion dads are the epitome of relaxation, often sleeping up to 20 hours a day. However, when danger threatens their pride, these seemingly lazy kings become fierce protectors. During the colder months, they rely on strong family bonds within the pride, while lionesses take advantage of the longer winter nights to stalk their prey more effectively.
With the vegetation thinning out, Elephants rely on their excellent memory and social knowledge to locate resources.
African Penguins are resilient birds who rely on their dense feathers to keep warm as they swim in the chilly waters hunting for fish.
Relying on their strong sense of smell, Rhinos spend the winter months locating the last remnants of edible plants and can often be seen visiting waterholes more frequently, ensuring they stay hydrated.
With less foliage, spotting prey becomes easier, and Eagles take full advantage with their keen eyesight. Eagle pairs use the winter to strengthen their bonds and are often seen soaring together and performing aerial displays.
Meerkats will dig deeper and more complex burrows to avoid the chill. Their intricate tunnel systems provide warmth and safety, allowing them to huddle together during cold nights.
The feature also highlights how Black-backed Jackals, kudus, Vervet Monkeys, and Baboons alter their foraging patterns and habits during the winter months.
To honour South Africaâs resilient wildlife, for the month of July, Springbok Casino is offering players 25 free spins on its new Cosmic Crusade slot.
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