AAPA: Tougher legislation needed to combat the ‘rise of digital theft’

Published on 1 October 2024, the 2024-2029 EU Manifesto from the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) lays out the economic significance of the content industries and the challenges they currently face in protecting their wares in stark detail. It also calls for new legislation and the toughening up of existing laws to help limit the impact of piracy, which as the document notes, extends “beyond immediate economic losses”. It adds: “They undermine the financial viability of legitimate services, reduce the quality and diversity of content available to consumers, and weaken the overall economic fabric by evading taxation and social contribution.”

The manifesto, which is a first for the organisation, is a compelling overview and call to action from AAPA, which is concentrated on “leading the charge against audio-visual piracy” on behalf of companies in Europe and beyond. Its membership encompasses rights owners, broadcasters, security technology providers, and manufacturers of products that enable the delivery of secure audio-visual content...