ALTIUS assists PACE Rights Management LLP, an undertaking active in the direct licensing of live music performance rights, in its intervention in the Court of Appeal proceedings brought by SABAM, the Belgian collecting rights society, against a ruling by the Brussels Commercial Court finding that SABAM had abused its dominance by charging excessive tariff rates. In its judgment of 10 April 2019, the Court of Appeal of Brussels decided to request an ‘amicus curiae’ (i.e. a non-binding opinion) from the European Commission. In particular, the Court requested the Commission an opinion on SABAM’s tariffs and tariff structure, especially by comparing SABAM’s tariffs and tariff structure with those of other collecting societies.

The Court has also requested the Commission to provide information on any similar cases or of any litigation or measure that might be pending at the European Union level. This case is important in particular as it is one of the very rare cases about excessive pricing outside the pharmaceutical sector and the Court of Appeal requested an “amicus curiae” from the Commission, which is very exceptional. The latest pleadings took place in June 2022. The Brussels Court of Appeal is due to decide on the matter in September 2022.

ALTIUS represents Nintendo Co., Ltd., Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe in its fight against trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.

ALTIUS represents the Honor Division (i.e. Premier League) of the Belgian hockey clubs in corporate housekeeping and the negotiation and drafting of a range sponsorship, service and broadcasting agreements aimed at extending the visibility of the top Belgian hockey competitions. ALTIUS also represents the Top Hockey League in the negotiation and drafting of a global Collaboration Agreement with the Royal Belgian Hockey Federation.