![1 In 7 Maltese Have Streamed Sports Illegally](https://maltadaily.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sportweb.jpg)
A recent EU Intellectual Property Office study revealed that over 13% of Maltese citizens streamed sports matches illegally in the past year, slightly above the EU average of 12%.
This placed Malta eleventh among 27 EU countries, with Bulgaria, Greece, and Spain topping the list. Notably, 28% of young Maltese (aged 15-24) admitted to illegal streaming, mirroring a broader EU trend.
In contrast, only 4% of Maltese reported knowingly purchasing fake sports gear, the lowest in the EU and significantly below the 10% EU average. The study estimated that Malta loses around half a million euros annually to counterfeit sports goods, constituting over 12% of sales in this sector.
The EUIPO emphasized that illegal streaming poses a significant threat to sports financing, especially with the UEFA European Championship approaching, which generated nearly €1.9 billion in 2020.
Additionally, digital piracy in the EU increased by 3% in 2022, reversing a previous downward trend. TV shows were the most pirated content, but illegal sports streaming surged by nearly a third between 2021 and 2022.
Europol’s ‘Operation Fake Star’ in 2022 seized over 1,800 fake luxury items at Maltese borders, part of a broader crackdown across the EU resulting in over 250 arrests. The IP Perception Study 2023 surveyed nearly 26,000 people, including over 500 Maltese.
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Source: European Union Intellectual Property Office