EU: Commission crackdown on Hollywood begins

The European Commission announced Monday that it has launched a formal investigation into major US movie studios and their licensing agreements made with pay-TV broadcasting companies.

Reports say EU authorities have launched its probe into Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros, Comcast Corp and more, as well as various EU pay-TV operators, including France’s Canal Plus and Spain’s DTS; the Commission is looking into licensing agreements made between the parties that allow broadcasters to present movies that are often only available in one EU nation.

Reports say the parties under watch may be anticompetitively granting “absolute territorial protection” to broadcasters, even if other geographical jurisdictions request the rights to present a film on their channels.

The Commission’s investigation follows an initial probe launched in 2012 into allegations of competition law violation concerning the licensing agreements.

Full Content: CNN

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