Search results : 54

On 14 February 2023, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered a judgment, highly protective of whistle-blowers claiming protection of their right to freedom of expression and information as guaranteed under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Grand Chamber built on its earlier case law, integrating the developments which had occurred since the Guja judgment in 2008 (IRIS 2008-6/1), and applying the criteria for whistle-blowing protection in the light of the current European and international legal framework. The judgment refered...

On 14 March 2022, the Autorité luxembourgeoise indépendante de l’audiovisuel (Independent Audiovisual Authority of Luxembourg – ALIA) ruled on a complaint filed on 21 January 2021 against the Serbian version of the SportKlub 1 TV channel and issued a EUR 1 500 fine to the owner of the channel’s broadcasting licence. The case concerned the broadcast of an advertising spot for an online sports betting service in which an actor wearing an SS uniform and speaking with a German accent encouraged viewers to bet on the German football Bundesliga. Although the advertisers...

On 26 November 2018, the EU Commission initiated proceedings for infringement of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union against 17 member states for non-compliance with the Directive requiring the transposition into national law of the Marrakesh Treaty (Directive (EU) 2017/1564) (see IRIS 2017-9/4 and IRIS 2016-9/4). The Marrakesh Treaty is a WIPO-administered convention that was signed on 27 June 2013 and entered into force on 30 September 2016, after the first 20 ratifications. The Treaty facilitates access to print works in formats adapted for persons who are blind, visually impaired...

On 7 December 2016, the European Commission decided to refer Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Romania and Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for their alleged failure to notify the complete transposition of the Collective Rights Management Directive (Directive 2014/26/EU) into their national laws (see IRIS 2014-4/4). The Directive aims to coordinate national rules concerning access to the online music sector by enhancing the workings of collective management organisations and by increasing transparency. The deadline for its transposition into national law was 10 April 2016. According...

The Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté Française (audiovisual regulatory body for the French Community of Belgium - CSA) wants to bring RTL Belgium under its control. However, the broadcaster, which belongs to the RTL Group and operates the RTL-TVi, Club RTL and Plug RT channels, only recognises the authority of the Autorité luxembourgeoise indépendante de l’audiovisuel (Luxembourg independent audiovisual authority - ALIA). The CSA is the regulatory body for the French Community of Belgium. On 29 June 2017, it announced that it wanted to bring the broadcaster RTL Belgium under...