MGM clarifies it did not engage in suspected third-party copyright infringement

Asia Star TV held the worldwide final of the Miss Asia Pageant 2020 at the MGM Cotai theater on January 3.
However, it has come to light that certain copyright infringements may have been incurred by the event, as a declaration was published by Asia Television Hong Kong in the city’s Chinese newspaper Macao Daily News.
Usually known as the ATV, the Asia Television Hong Kong was the oldest conventional television broadcaster in Hong Kong before its termination in 2016. It then moved online and continues to offer streamed programs.
In the declaration, ATV emphasized that it is the sole owner of the intellectual property of the brand Miss Asia in both Chinese and English, as well as its logo in Hong Kong and in mainland China.
The broadcaster condemned the alleged violator for openly breaching the law and damaging the rights of ATV.
In response to an inquiry by the Times on the recent beauty pageant copyright infringement matter, the venue owner, MGM China Holdings Ltd., said it has “no comment on any dispute between third parties not linked to MGM.”
The integrated resort operator stressed that the matter “was solely a venue rental by the organizer.”
Meanwhile, a report by online news outlet Allin Media noted that an incident involving beauty contests with the same name – both held in the name of Miss Asia – was recorded last year in mainland China. Hence, ATV has filed a lawsuit against the alleged violator. An interim injunction order has also been issued to suspend further events held in the same name.
ATV also remarked that it will revoke the titles of the worldwide contest winners in the years 2016 to 2018.