Legal Definitions - Convention Relating to the Distribution of Program-Carrying Signals

Convention Relating to the Distribution of Program-Carrying Signals

This international treaty, often referred to as the Brussels Satellite Convention, is an agreement among countries to prevent the unauthorized re-distribution of television and radio programs that are transmitted via satellite. Its primary purpose is to protect the rights of broadcasters and content owners from their satellite signals being intercepted and then re-broadcast or otherwise made available to the public without permission, especially across national borders.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: Unauthorized Sports Broadcast

  Imagine a major international football tournament being broadcast live via satellite by a rights-holding network in Europe. A company in a different country, without purchasing the necessary broadcasting rights, intercepts this satellite signal and then re-transmits it to its own local cable subscribers or streams it online. This action would be a violation of the principles outlined in the Convention, as it involves the unauthorized distribution of a program-carrying signal transmitted by satellite.

• Example 2: Pirated Premium Movie Channel

  Consider a premium movie channel that broadcasts its exclusive content via satellite to paying subscribers within a specific region. An individual or organization in another country uses specialized equipment to intercept this encrypted satellite signal, decrypts it, and then makes the channel's programming available to others through an illicit streaming service or a local, unauthorized cable network. The Convention would apply here to address the unlawful re-distribution of the satellite-transmitted programs.

• Example 3: Cross-Border News Re-transmission

  An international news agency transmits its 24-hour news programming via satellite to its licensed affiliates worldwide. A local television station in a neighboring country, without any agreement or license, picks up this satellite feed and re-broadcasts the news content directly on its own channel, presenting it as their own programming. This scenario demonstrates how the Convention aims to prevent the unauthorized re-transmission of program-carrying signals across borders, protecting the original broadcaster's intellectual property and commercial interests.