INSIGHTS
The World Trade Organisation Has Found That Saudi Arabia Broke International Law
Jun 28, 2020
The Panel concluded that Saudi Arabia had taken “anti-sympathy” measures that prevented beIN from securing legal representation to enforce its IP rights and thereby acted in a manner inconsistent with Articles 42 and 41.1 of the TRIPS Agreement, that Saudi Arabia promoted public gatherings viewing broadcasts of beoutQ’s pirated broadcasts, and that Saudi Arabia acted inconsistently with its treaty obligations under Article 61 of the TRIPS Agreement by failing to apply criminal procedures and penalties to beoutQ.
Saudi Arabia subsequently attempted to invoke the “security exception” of Article 73(b)(iii) of the TRIPS Agreement with respect to its violations under Articles 42, 41.1, and 61. Although the Panel recognised that Saudi Arabia may have justification for invoking the security exception in respect of Articles 42 and 41.1 there was no justification for Saudi Arabia’s failure to apply criminal procedures and penalties to beoutQ. Accordingly, the conclusion of the Panel was that Saudi Arabia should “bring its measures into conformity with its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement”.
Next month we will be providing a more in depth analysis of the Panel’s report, as well as information regarding the protection of Intellectual Property in Qatar generally.
