Premier League Season... for Prosecutions!

Originally posted 31st January 2014...

A pub landlord in Swansea is being required to pay some £65,000 in legal costs (pending final assessment) following the successful application for summary judgment made by the Premier League against him.

In brief, the landlord screened Premier League matches using a foreign satellite card authorised only for private use. Of paramount importance, the Danish system used depicted the Premier League’s logo therefore breaching relevant copyright law.

Mrs Justice Rose granted the Premier League's application for summary judgment, stating "There is no defence to this claim and summary judgment must be entered”. She also made a declaration of infringement and issued an injunction stopping further unlawful screenings.

It has been reported that the case is the first of up to 100 prosecutions the Premier League will be bringing throughout England and Wales this season.

Updated 27th February 2014...

It is being reported that another licensee has been successfully prosecuted for showing Sky televised football matches without a commercial viewing agreement. The licensee, based in London, has been ordered to pay in excess of £12,000 in fines and costs.

This follows another reported case earlier this month of a Staffordshire based licensee being fined almost £7,000

More prosecutions are still expected to follow.