Jamie Ryder

Jamie is a partner in the Entertainment & Media Industry Group, based in the UAE. His practice covers the entertainment, media, and sport sectors, with a focus on commercial, technology, and intellectual property matters.

Experience

Representative matters

Advised Saudi Telecom Company (STC) on its US$1.8 billion purchase of the exclusive worldwide broadcast rights for the Saudi Professional League and other matches, and associated marketing and sponsorship rights.

Advised OSN on its strategic collaboration with a multi-platform media and entertainment organisation, in a deal which saw OSN become the exclusive broadcaster of a suite of premium sports and entertainment channels, as well as on the migration of an existing subscriber base.

Advised a multi-platform media and entertainment organisation in respect of its purchase of the exclusive broadcast rights of the English Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa region, and subsequent secondment to the client as primary in-house legal advisor on all matters relating to the multi-platform distribution of such broadcast rights, including, agreements relating to exploitation by encrypted satellite broadcast, agreements relating to the delivery of live matches via a web platform as well as multi-territory delivery on a free-to-air, analogue and digital terrestrial basis, agreements for simultaneous retransmission of encrypted satellite broadcasts on various other delivery platforms including by means of mobile telecommunications, IPTV and cable, and agreements for the provision of content production and channel management and scheduling services.

Advised an international converged media and technology company on the roll out of its OTT content platform and video-game streaming platforms in various territories across the Middle East including licensing and content regulation.

Advised a leading international media brand on its proposed launch of VoD services throughout various territories in the Middle East, and the associated regulatory and licensing implications.

Advised a major international film, television and music producer on the digital distribution of its media content, on multiple online platforms, in various territories throughout the Middle East and Europe, and the legal and regulatory framework in respect of the censorship and rating of such content.

Advised an international media company on its proposed linear television channel launch in the Middle East including advice in respect of content censorship, age ratings and other regulatory considerations.

Advised a series of overseas sports rights holders including the Premier League, the NBA and Formula One in respect of broadcast and advertising regulations and risks associated with the exploitation of content and advertising (including digital advertising) in the Middle East.

Advised a leading regional pay-TV operator, OSN in respect of multiple matters including breaches of its exclusive copyright and other piracy related matters, a range of third party channel-carriage agreements with internationally prominent channels and associated OTT/VoD content distribution, a monthly “regulatory watchlist” service, updating the client on significant regulatory developments across a number of key jurisdictions, content acquisition agreements (both for live sporting events and library collections), channel carriage agreements including exclusive arrangements with leading regional channels, software licence agreements related to on-screen graphics, and set top box supply and distribution agreements.

Advised a leading global broadcaster on a range of agreements, including content sale and acquisition agreements, co-production, production and commissioning agreements, channel carriage agreements, agreements for the sale of advertising space and associated revenue share, intellectual property infringement matters in relation to web, broadcast and mobile content as well as trade mark infringement and domain name disputes, agreements for the provision of audience research, measurement and analytical services, talent agreements for producers/directors, event management agreements, agreement for the provision of online anti-piracy services, host broadcaster agreements for an international athletics competition, and agreements for the design and ongoing support of mobile and web-based applications.

Advised Dubai Expo 2020 on its suite of commercial sponsorship and associated commercial supply agreements (including large scale telecommunications network and cutting-edge technology procurement).

Advised a Dubai government entity on the sponsorship of elements of its iconic building in Dubai.

Advised a well-known social media app on its sponsorship of a major football cup and associated competitions.

Advised a major airline on its key sponsorship of an English Premier League football club including shirt sponsorship and various branding rights.

Advised a major airline in relation to the renaming, rebranding and sponsorship of a well-known stadium in Australia.

Advised a dragster racing team in Qatar on the headline sponsorship of its dragster racing team.

Advising noon on its sponsorship of Saudi football club, Ittihad FC.

Advising the headline sponsor in respect of its sponsorship of the Hail Rally Event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Advised a major Hollywood film and television production company on the production and location arrangements for several blockbuster movies filmed on location in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as in respect of government incentives and rebates.

Advised a well-known film studio on various content clearances for a major blockbuster movie in respect of the movie itself and Super Bowl advertising.

Advised a multinational music corporation on various agreements in relation to a Middle East version of a well-known reality television show.

Advised a number of international media entities on a suite of agreements for the filming and production of reality television series to be filmed in the UAE.

Advising a Middle East film fund on a range of motion picture related agreements including joint venture agreements, film-financing arrangements and related documentation, and talent agreements for performers, producers and directors.

Advised Dubai Expo 2020 in relation to the design, launch and support of a metaverse recreation (digital twin) of the Expo site. Magnopus, an LA based creative and software agency, was retained by Expo to design and implement a fully immersive and interactive digital twin of the Expo site utilising cutting- edge virtual reality technology. Magnopus also provided a digital overlay on the physical Expo site, allowing visitors to interact with the environment at the physical site utilising mobile device based augmented reality.

Advised a technology client on the launch of its award winning NFT marketplace in the UAE, by drafting a set of platform terms and conditions, navigating complex IP ownership and licensing issues, and assisting the client in securing the rights to the platform itself from its third party developers through a number of consultancy and confirmatory IP assignment agreements, ensuring the intellectual property rights in the platform flowed up the chain effectively to the client.

Advised an athletic footwear and apparel corporation with respect to securing intellectual property assets in connection with its acquisition of a virtual fashion company that creates and sells NFTs. We advised on navigating the nuances of UAE intellectual property laws (copyright, trademark and patent) and developed a confirmatory assignment agreement to ensure that the necessary IP rights were secured in a particularly high value piece of IP which was central to the deal.

Advised multiple online and mobile gaming publishers and platforms on the regulatory implications of in-game items and associated content compliance restrictions.

Advised Falcon's Treehouse, a U.S.-based creative services agency specialising in theme park attraction design, on its content licensing arrangements and ride-design consultancy services in respect of a number of cutting-edge theme park attractions in the UAE.

Advised Merlin Entertainment on the licensing of intellectual property rights to create an immersive themed attraction in the Middle East.

Advised an Abu Dhabi based property developer on the licensing and operation of an adventure themed attraction in Abu Dhabi.

Recognitions

Ranked in Chambers Global for United Arab Emirates TMT: Media, Entertainment & Sport, 2024-2025, and for United Arab Emirates TMT: IT, Telecoms & Data, 2025
Listed as a Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500 EMEA for United Arab Emirates TMT, 2024-2025
Named IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property, 2025