DENMARK Law and Practice Contributed by: Frederik Bruhn, Rasmus Theis Madsen, Robert Jønsson and Tim Krarup Nielsen, HortenDahl Law Firm
Under the proposal, exclusive rights to such events may not be exercised in a manner that prevents a significant part of the population from accessing them via free television, defined by a 60% monthly reach threshold. The order has not yet entered into force, but is expected to take effect on 1 June 2026. Intellectual Property and Signal Rights Broadcasting rights are separately protected by the Danish Copyright Act, which grants special protection to broadcasting signals. This ensures that unauthor - ised public screenings, such as those in commercial venues, require explicit permission from the broad - caster. Beyond this separate signal protection, television broadcasts may qualify for general copyright pro - tection under the Danish Copyright Act if they meet the required originality threshold as cinematographic works. However, broadcasting rights must also be considered in conjunction with event rights, requir - ing television providers to obtain consent from event organisers before distributing content to third parties. The legal protection of sports events in Denmark is based on general legal principles rather than specific statutory provisions. The Danish Supreme Court has established that event organisers can restrict others from commercial exploitation of their events, particu - larly in controlled environments such as stadiums. The ruling emphasised that football matches are private events, allowing the organiser to restrict access and the dissemination of match-related information, such as live scores. Once the match information has law - fully been made public, the event organiser cannot prevent third parties from further disseminating it. Organisation and Management of Sports Events Sports events in Denmark are typically governed by national federations under DIF. Federations have regu - latory authority to organise tournaments, set partici - pation rules, and enforce commercial policies. Clubs 3. Sports Events 3.1 Proprietary Rights and Event Management Proprietary Rights and Event Protection
are responsible for staging individual matches but must comply with federation-imposed regulations. In Danish football, the Superligaen A/S-model sets out a shared ownership of commercial rights, where clubs collectively manage the commercial aspects of the Danish Superliga. Limitations on Commercial Exploitation Federations impose strict regulations on how clubs and athletes can monetise sports events. For exam - ple: • the Danish Handball Federation regulates advertis - ing on player kits through its Liga Regulations; • DBU enforces sponsorship rules via its sponsor - ship circular in Danish football; and • UEFA retains all commercial rights for tournaments such as the Champions League and the European Championship, limiting club and national team branding opportunities. A key issue in sports event commercialisation is the redistribution of broadcasting and sponsorship rev - enue. While UEFA retains control over Champions League advertising rights, participating clubs receive financial compensation through participation fees and performance-based bonuses. 3.2 Duty of Care and Liability Duty of Care for Sports Event Organisers Sports event organisers in Denmark are subject to a strict duty of care similar to that of property owners, as they exercise control over the venue and the safety of participants and spectators. Organisers are required to take necessary precautions to prevent injuries and to provide proper instructions to ensure safety. If an organiser fails to take reasonable precautions and an injury occurs, the organiser can be held lia - ble. However, if sufficient safety measures have been implemented, organisers are typically not liable for accidents that occur during the event. Organisers often limit liability through disclaimers in ticketing terms and participation agreements. How - ever, under Danish law, liability for gross negligence or wilful misconduct cannot be excluded. In addition,
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