The Singapore-based Asia Video Industry Association has named IP lawyer Matthew Cheetham as general manager of its Coalition Against Piracy.
Taking over the role from Aaron Herps, he is a qualified lawyer specialising in intellectual property, and specifically copyright protection, with more than 20 years' experience working for major Asia-Pacific content producers.
Most recently, he was the Premier League's regional head of business affairs, and opened and headed up its APAC office in Singapore – the first office outside the UK.
Chief executive Louis Boswell said AVIA was delighted to recruit “such a seasoned and experienced executive”.
“Matt will bring his own ideas and energy to the role and I am confident CAP and the industry's anti-piracy efforts will grow in strength under him," he said.
Prior to Premier League, Cheetham spent ten years as the Motion Picture Association's regional legal counsel and assistant policy officer, and as managing director of its New Zealand office, the New Zealand Screen Association.
Boswell says CAP has made “real inroads” into the systemic problems of video piracy faced by the broadcast and streaming video industry in Asia Pacific over the past four years.
Blocking of pirate sites is becoming more common in many markets, laws have been introduced to limit access to infringing set-top devices, constructive relationships have been forged with intermediaries to limit access to pirate services and investigations and prosecutions have been effected.
However, the problem is still seen as the single biggest impediment to the growth of the legitimate content creation industry and ecosystem.