BELGIUM

Government investment in video games, cooperation agreements to support data protection and OTT expansion are all part of Belgium’s industry activity over the past year.

The Flemish Department of Education and Training has become the second European government, after Poland, to integrate video games into mainstream edition.

In November, the government announced that it has commissioned the Game.Learn.Grow toolbox, developed by Arteveldehogeschool and Mediawijs.

The toolbox serves as a practical guide for primary and secondary school teachers, providing lesson sheets and tools to create activities that are based on video games.

The toolbox also provides over 30 activities for different age groups, including exploring ancient Greece in Assassin’s Creed and rebuilding their school in Minecraft.

Simon Little, CEO of Europe’s Video Games Industry, said: “It is extremely exciting to see another European government recognise the value of video games to education in this way. We know

from our Games in Schools project that video games have an exciting role to play in the classroom.”

The government has also announced a EUR100,000 fund to support the Flemish video games sector during the pandemic.

Other developments include a cooperation agreement between the Belgium Data Protection Authority and DNS Belgium, the orgnaisation that manages the .be country code domain name.

The aim of the agreement, signed in November, is to allow DNS Belgium to suspend .be websites that are linked to GDPR infringements.

In the latest OTT expansion, Liberty Global-owned Telenet was given regulatory approval to launch its streaming service JV Streamz, in collaboration with DPG Media. Telenet, based in the Flemish part of Belgium, was given approval in August.

TIER 1

Altius combines media and intellectual property with its emphasis on entertainment segments. The team advises on television and filmed entertainment, games and music. The team works on wide-ranging cases involving pre-publication advice and clearance, licensing agreements and rights disputes.

Crowell & Moring is highly reputed for its leading focus on all segments of media and technology. In addition to traditional areas of advice, the team works on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and financing transactions. The litigation team advises on antitrust regulation, privacy and data collection rights.

Focussed on copyright and media, Hoyng Rokh Monegier lawyers litigate on behalf of rights holders in high profile cases. Working with publishers, broadcasters, artists and producers the team advises on local and cross-border issues and negotiates complex agreements. Fabienne Brison manages the team that also advises on regulatory frameworks.

Clients appoint Koan Law Firm on account of its “quality, efficiency and correct remuneration”. The team is “always on track and always on time”. The firm’s emphasis on media is matched by a specialisation in advertising and copyright law. Department leaders Christine De Keersmaeker and Agnès Maqua manage the media, technology and IP team. Both partners are credited with having exceptional experience working with clients from the press, cinema and audio-visual production sectors. Other areas of focus include film financing and product placement.

TIER 2

Fieldfisher acts for independent film producers and distributors in copyright disputes and negotiates media-related agreements. The practice advises providers of audio-visual content, advertisers and communications agencies. The team has extensive experience advising on film and sports law.

With combined focus on media, IP and IT Marx Van Ranst Vermeersch & Partners adopts a multidisciplinary approach to sector-related work. Core areas of competence include television, motion pictures, music, advertising and sports. The team includes litigation and arbitration specialists who routinely advise on the protection of creative works, licensing of technology, computer software, multimedia and telecommunications.

The media team at & De Bandt advises on television formats, privacy, freedom of the press and liability for publication. Lawyers negotiate international entertainment contracts, assist with litigation before the courts and advise on competition law. The firm also handles commercial matters, working on national and international business litigation. The practice has two decades of experience representing television stations, musicians, publishers and artists.

TIER 3

CMS’ work includes commercial and corporate matters connected with media sector activity. Managing partner Tom Heremans leads the intellectual property team advising on privacy, distribution law and commercial litigation. Lawyers also assist broadcasters and satellite operators with regulatory and licensing matters. Other clients include e-commerce companies and international football organisations.

Although FENCER was only founded in July 2020, its team, led by Paul Maeyaert, is anything but new to the market. FENCER has assisted famous right owners, artists, art galleries, online and offline publishers, producers and broadcasting companies on copyright and other Intellectual Property related issues. Paul Maeyaert, together with his team-member Caro Van Wichelen, has also frequently litigated high-profile cases on freedom of speech, the right to reply, defamation claims and image rights.

NautaDutilh works on industry-related commercial and regulatory matters. Media specialist Philippe Péters has significant experience advising on copyright and IT matters. Other areas of focus include litigation and arbitration. The firm’s clients include Warner Bros., Coca Cola and NOS.

TIER 4

Sports and entertainment work dominate activity at Hunton Andrews Kurth. The media team advises on sport-related joint venture arrangements, intellectual property filings and sanctioning body regulations. The media practice group is recognised for its cross-sector focus.