Hartplatzhelden (Hard Court Heroes) vs. Monopolisation of Sports Event Rights

Dr Thomas C. Körber and Dr André Soldner of Klinkert Zindel Partner in Frankfurt, Germany, review the recent case of the German regional football association of Württemberg against the operator of the internet platform www.hartplatzhelden.de before Germany’s highest court, the Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof –“BGH”). The BGH decided that the operator of Hartplatzhelden complied with German law when making video film clips of amateur football matches held by its member clubs publicly available via its internet platform.