/ 27 March 2007

ICC demands YouTube remove World Cup clips

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday told online video-sharing group YouTube to remove World Cup clips claiming copyright infringement, it was reported in London.

ICC Development, the body’s commercial arm, and commercial rights holder the Global Cricket Corporation, have gone after YouTube to protect the rights of broadcast and sponsorship partners.

”We are here to protect the commercial broadcast rights for the ICC and GCC and there is an issue here,” Christopher Stokes, the chief executive of online rights protection agency NetResult, which represents the ICC, told the Guardian newspaper.

”In general there is a dilemma for rights holders in that they want people to enjoy the event but also have stringent contracts with TV broadcasters and with mobile rights holders.

”In today’s world, broadcasters buy highlights as well as live coverage and mobile rights means clips. There is an obligation to protect them.” – Sapa-AFP