Legal industry leaders unite at BITS Law School to tackle media and sports regulations

BITS Law School, Mumbai organised an industry round table titled 'Content, Commerce & Compliance: Navigating India’s Evolving Media and Sports Ecosystem' on December 18 which brought together legal professionals and industry leaders to deliberate on regulatory and commercial issues shaping India’s media and sports sectors.

The round table was convened by the Industry Interface and Career Advancement (IICA) Office, BITS Law School to examine challenges brought by the growing convergence of content, technology, and commerce. The session opened with a welcome address by Head, IICA, BITS Law School, Dr Chetana Lal.

Digital platforms, data, new monetisation models, governance, and legal risk in an evolving regulatory landscape were among some of the issues discussed at the round table.

The keynote address was delivered by Managing Partner, DSK Legal, Anand Desai reflected on the regulatory environment governing media and sports businesses in India,

"India’s media and sports ecosystem is evolving in ways that call for policy frameworks which are simple, clear, and can accommodate innovation. As content and commerce increasingly converge across digital platforms, regulation must strike a careful balance between enabling growth and safeguarding public interest. Dialogues such as this roundtable play a vital role in developing thoughts for informed policy discourse and regulatory outcomes"

The round table discussion was moderated by Chief Legal Officer, Games24x7, Sameer Chugh guided the conversation on issues relating to content regulation, commercial structuring, and compliance obligations in rapidly growing digital ecosystems. He said,

"The discussions reinforced that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to self-regulation versus legislation. While self-regulation can work where the industry is aligned and consumer interests are prioritized, legislative intervention becomes necessary in certain other cases, making this a context-specific decision. The conversation also highlighted the regulatory gaps around AI, particularly in e-sports/gaming, where the use of bots and algorithms may be legitimate in certain formats like free-to-play or casual games but raises concerns once monetary elements/ cash prizes, are involved, underscoring the need for clearer regulatory frameworks."

In her closing remarks, Dr Chetana Lal stated,

“As media, sports, and gaming sectors evolve at the intersection of content, technology, and commerce, the demand for legal professionals with industry-ready skills is growing rapidly. Platforms such as this roundtable help bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world practice by exposing students to contemporary regulatory and commercial challenges, thereby preparing them for emerging career opportunities in technology-led sectors.”

Participants engaged in an interactive discussion followed by a question-and-answer session, reflecting on the practical challenges faced by organisations operating across media, sports, and allied sectors. The exchange highlighted the importance of informed dialogue between legal practitioners, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions.

<Sponsored by the Brand>