A Comparative Study of the Right to Fair Competition in the Monopoly of Television Broadcasting of Sporting Events Based on the European Union Approach

This paper aims to compare the current laws of the European Union (EU) with Iran focusing on the need to respect the sport shows intellectual property (IP). By investigating the EU goals to support the broadcasting and media rights in sport, we compare Iranian law to the EU to determine the necessary changes. The research method of this paper is descriptive-analytical with an applied purpose. Today, sports activities are not only considered as a recreational phenomenon or a show of strength, but also a dynamic system that has high potential for earning profit and spreading sports culture; it also can be a means of improving the physical and mental health of individuals and an efficient and useful mechanism to achieve the goals of governments. Therefore, exclusivism in reporting sports events and distributing advertisements during sporting events can be very effective and useful. Undoubtedly, the important point for businesses, in attracting sports sponsors and investing in that field, is to have the exclusive right to broadcast television and radio to introduce their goods and services during sporting events, so that they can differentiate their brand to other competitors. A comparative study of the EU approach in the field of media and exclusive broadcasting rights reveals that maintaining and improving the material and spiritual quality of sporting events and media productions, considering good faith and fairness of viewers and citizens in media advertising -especially during events Sports-, and protecting the rights of producers of sports content is necessary and inevitable. Therefore, as long as the rights of the rightful owners are not guaranteed by law the capacities of the media, especially in the field of sports, will not flourish.