WT/DS567/R 16 June 2020 (20-4200) Page: 1/125 Original: English SAUDI ARABIA – MEASURES CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS REPORT OF THE PANEL WT/DS567/R - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 14 1.1 Complaint by Qatar .....................................................................................................14 1.2 Panel establishment and composition ............................................................................14 1.3 Panel proceeding ........................................................................................................14 1.3.1 General ..................................................................................................................14 1.3.2 Procedural issues arising from Saudi Arabia's refusal to interact with Qatar .....................15 1.3.3 Issues concerning certain English translations submitted by the UAE ..............................16 1.3.4 The Panel's request for information from the International Bureau of WIPO .....................16 1.3.5 Saudi Arabia's request to confirm the authenticity of an exhibit submitted by Qatar .........17 1.3.6 Procedural issues arising from Qatar's submission of a witness statement .......................17 2 FACTUAL ASPECTS..................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................21 2.2 Factual background.....................................................................................................21 2.2.1 The broadcasting and copyright regime in Saudi Arabia ................................................21 2.2.2 The June 2017 severance of relations and events leading up to it ..................................25 2.2.3 The broadcasting operations of the Qatari-based beIN Media Group ...............................29 2.2.4 The emergence of beoutQ .........................................................................................31 2.3 The measures at issue ................................................................................................32 3 PARTIES' REQUESTS FOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................ 33 4 ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES ................................................................................... 35 5 ARGUMENTS OF THE THIRD PARTIES ........................................................................ 35 6 INTERIM REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 35 6.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................35 6.2 General issues ...........................................................................................................35 6.3 Factual aspects ..........................................................................................................39 6.4 Preliminary considerations ...........................................................................................40 6.5 Acts and omissions claimed by Qatar to be attributable to Saudi Arabia.............................40 6.6 Claims under Parts I, II and III of the TRIPS Agreement..................................................45 6.7 Saudi Arabia's invocation of Article 73(b)(iii) of the TRIPS Agreement ...............................46 6.8 Conclusions and recommendation .................................................................................47 7 FINDINGS ................................................................................................................. 47 7.1 Preliminary considerations ...........................................................................................47 7.1.1 Overview and order of analysis ..................................................................................47 7.1.2 Saudi Arabia's request that the Panel decline to make any findings or recommendation based on Articles 3.4, 3.7 and 11 of the DSU ................................................49 7.1.3 The measures challenged by Qatar ............................................................................54 7.2 Acts and omissions claimed by Qatar to be attributable to Saudi Arabia.............................57 7.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................57 7.2.2 Arguments ..............................................................................................................59 WT/DS567/R - 3 - 7.2.2.1 Qatar ..................................................................................................................59 7.2.2.2 Saudi Arabia .........................................................................................................60 7.2.3 Assessment by the Panel ..........................................................................................62 7.2.3.1 Applicable legal standard .......................................................................................62 7.2.3.2 beIN's access to civil enforcement procedures ..........................................................63 7.2.3.2.1 Anti-sympathy measures.....................................................................................63 7.2.3.2.1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................63 7.2.3.2.1.2 Evidence regarding general anti-sympathy measures ...........................................63 7.2.3.2.1.3 Evidence regarding the refusal of Saudi law firms to act in relation to the beoutQ matter ...................................................................................................................65 7.2.3.2.1.4 Evidence regarding other actions by Saudi authorities to direct private entities in their arrangements with beIN ..........................................................................................66 7.2.3.2.1.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................68 7.2.3.2.2 The 19 June 2017 Circular, travel restrictions and Ministerial approval requirement ......................................................................................................................68 7.2.3.3 Non-application of criminal procedures and penalties .................................................73 7.2.3.3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................73 7.2.3.3.2 Overview of correspondence ................................................................................73 7.2.3.3.3 Evidence regarding the promotion of beoutQ by prominent Saudi nationals ...............77 7.2.3.3.4 Evidence regarding the targeting of the Saudi market by beoutQ .............................79 7.2.3.3.5 Evidence regarding the transmission of beoutQ's broadcasts via Arabsat ...................83 7.2.3.3.6 Evidence regarding the involvement of Selevision ..................................................88 7.2.3.3.7 Overall assessment ............................................................................................90 7.2.3.4 Public screenings of beoutQ's broadcasts .................................................................90 7.2.4 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................92 7.3 Claims under Parts I, II and III of the TRIPS Agreement..................................................92 7.3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................92 7.3.2 Arguments ..............................................................................................................93 7.3.2.1 Qatar ..................................................................................................................93 7.3.2.2 Saudi Arabia .........................................................................................................95 7.3.2.3 Third parties .........................................................................................................95 7.3.3 Assessment by the Panel ..........................................................................................97 7.3.3.1 Order of analysis ...................................................................................................97 7.3.3.2 Claims under Article 42 of the TRIPS Agreement regarding civil and administrative procedures and remedies, and Article 41.1 on general obligations ............................................98 7.3.3.2.1 Applicable legal standard.....................................................................................98 7.3.3.2.2 Application to the facts .......................................................................................99 7.3.3.2.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 101 7.3.3.3 Claim under Article 61 of the TRIPS Agreement regarding criminal procedures ........... 101 7.3.3.3.1 Applicable legal standard................................................................................... 101 7.3.3.3.2 Application to the facts ....................................................................................