Germany

[DE] Football on the Internet - No, Says the German Football Association

IRIS 1998-2:1/1

Valentina Becker

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

Early in August 1997, a German Regional League match was to be transmitted on the Internet for the first time. The cost of setting up several cameras was to be covered by sponsors, in return for the right to insert their logos.

However, the German Football Association (DFB) vetoed the project, on the ground that all broadcasting rights to the match between Wuppertaler SV and Preußen Münster had already been sold. It argued that these contracts were not restricted to television, but covered the transmission of all moving pictures. Wuppertaler SV and its lawyers see the legal situation differently. They hold that the contracts do not apply to the Internet. They have decided, however, not to bring proceedings (in which the sum at issue might have been some DEM 50 million) against the DFB.

The club cancelled the Internet transmission, but intends to organise a benefit match - which does not count for league purposes and is not therefore subject to DFB rules - in the near future. This is to be shown on the Internet too, although only parts of the match are likely to be covered.