Premier League win case against pub

A statement issued by the Premier League says, ‘We welcome confirmation from the High Court that The Rhyddings Hotel in Swansea was infringing our copyright with its broadcasts of Premier League football. We are pleased that the Court awarded an injunction against the infringing premises, together with an order for damages and payment of our costs.’ These costs could amount to £125,000 with the case reaching the High Court.

A statement issued by the Premier League says, ‘We welcome confirmation from the High Court that The Rhyddings Hotel in Swansea was infringing our copyright with its broadcasts of Premier League football. We are pleased that the Court awarded an injunction against the infringing premises, together with an order for damages and payment of our costs.’ These costs could amount to £125,000 with the case reaching the High Court.

‘We are currently undertaking our largest-ever investigations programme and have commenced legal action against several pubs and will continue to do so. Only Sky Sports and BT Sport are authorised to show live Premier League football in pubs in the UK and legitimate commercial subscriptions can be obtained from them.’

The League’s QC, Helen Davies, claimed the pub breached strict copyright rules by showing live matches using a satellite card, issued by a Danish broadcaster, during which the Premier League’s distinctive logo was depicted. The card was only authorised for use in a private home, said the barrister, “and not for use in commercial premises such as the pub”. There was effectively “communication without consent”, she told Mrs Justice Rose.

Mr Luxton,the publican, insisted that the claim against him was an “illicit attempt” to prevent the use of foreign decoder cards and that the League’s claim foundered on the rock of European Union free trade rules. However, the League’s lawyers argued that the foreign decoder cards could not be used in a “public” setting and that showing the Premier League logos in on-screen graphics was also a clear breach of copyright.

The Premier League is certainly attempting to crackdown on pubs who do not make payments to Sky or BT Sport. The audiences and drinkers that such matches attract can make the difference between survival and closure for many pubs and clubs. However, they argue that the prices charged by Sky are too high.