Strengthening Copyright in the Digital Era: Honduras Takes Action

By Bufete Mejia & Asociados

The Honduran Intellectual Property Institute has taken proactive steps to safeguard copyright protection in the digital age, recognizing the increasing challenges posed by the rapid evolution of information and communication technologies. In response to the growing prevalence of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and Over-The-Top (OTT) services, the institution has launched a series of comprehensive training programs aimed at strengthening the understanding and enforcement of intellectual property rights within these digital platforms.

The training sessions delve into the critical aspects of copyright, production, and distribution of television content in the digital era. Participants gain valuable insights into the nuances of new forms of digital broadcasting and the distinctions between various platform types. This knowledge equips stakeholders with the tools to effectively navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property in the digital age.

Copyright infringing IPTV distribution shows a variety of patterns and ranges from well organised large business structures to individual undertakings. While providing the same product, namely access to live streamed channels, illegal IPTV providers vary in terms of the platform on which the access to IPTV is made available, target audience, pricing strategies and other elements such as complementary products (video on demand, set-top box sales) and social media presence.
Infringement can simply commence when an unlicensed content provider legally obtains a stream from a content distributor or content provider and makes it available to third parties this way violating the terms of use. These third parties may be end users and consumers of the content, or intermediaries, in which case they may also make profit by reselling it.

OTT is an online service from which streaming is offered directly to viewers through the internet without the support of cable, broadcast and satellite television platforms. It brings to the communication space a rapid expansion in the streaming media service and every form of entertainment which provides new orientation for telecommunication growth. This digital platform comes at a time when traditional methods of access and sharing of information are gradually taking new shape and giving a chance for people to consume content anywhere and everywhere.