UEFA joins ACE coalition to combat digital piracy

UEFA has joined the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the content protection coalition dedicated to combating digital piracy.

UEFA becomes the first sports rights-holder to join ACE, and will play an active role in ACE’s Live Tier. The Live Tier enhances and coordinates the organisation’s efforts to target sports piracy operations and, working with law enforcement and other partners, pursues actions that dismantle illegal operations worldwide.

ACE is led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), and brings together over 50 major entertainment companies and studios in a coordinated bid to combat piracy that threatens the integrity of the digital ecosystem.

“UEFA joining ACE represents a landmark moment in our global content protection strategy,” said Guy-Laurent Epstein, executive director of marketing at UEFA. “This partnership allows us to expand our enforcement capabilities, deepen our existing collaboration with industry leaders and leverage ACE’s proven capabilities to disrupt illegal services.”

“With UEFA joining the world’s largest anti-piracy coalition, we are strengthening our fight to detect, deter, and dismantle online piracy everywhere,” adds Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and chairman of ACE. “UEFA’s membership bolsters ACE’s ability to defend sports content from nefarious players in real time – and amplifies the reach of our efforts to protect football fans and broadcasters across the globe.”

Members of the ACE Live Tier share the Alliance’s real-time intelligence, global reach, policy advocacy and partnerships with private sector and law enforcement allies. 

ACE has achieved many global enforcement actions against illegal streaming services and unauthorised content sources and their operators. The current governing board members for ACE are Amazon, Apple TV, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery.