Pub Owners Should ‘Hold tight' on Foreign Satellite Decoders
A recent court verdict may have approved public house owners to legally use cheap foreign satellite decoders to show football matches.
Although, a solicitor has cautioned licence holders not to rush to screen football matches through the foreign satellite decoder equipment, as to do so, it would be a copyright infringement of the Premier League - Lancashire licensing solicitor
Karen Murphy is a landlady in Portsmouth that has battled a legal conflict against the Premier League for the last six years, after she was convicted for screening live football in her public house through a Greek channel.
This conviction has now been overturned by the High Court and granted her an appeal, meaning that it isn't illegal to use foreign satellite decoders to screen football matches.
However, it does still violate the Premier League's copyright – for instance, screening the Premier League anthem or showing its emblem – is still a legal offence, meaning pub owners ought to hold tight prior to screening football matches in this way.
The head licensing solicitor for Napthens, Malcolm Ireland, has said: "This is a huge success for the landlady involved, but license holds are currently still in the dark over whether this means foreign satellite decoders can really be used in this manner.
"The ruling means that foreign satellite decoders aren't illegal, but screening Premier League football matches in this way would still be an infringement of copyright if the Premier League anthem or emblems are televised.
"We anticipate further legal clarification and future judgements on the copyright problem, as I would imagine that foreign satellite decoder companies may possibly adapt what elements of the match are televised to avoid violating the copyright law. It is likely that this action will bring about a significant future legal judgement that will give further explanation on this matter.
"In anticipation of this occurrence, I warn pub owners not to hurry out and buy the foreign satellite equipment, as showing Premier League games would still be violating the law."
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About Napthens
Napthens are legal specialists that operate from four offices based in Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool and Chorley. Napthens provides legal services for local, national and regional clients in Lancashire.
Although, a solicitor has cautioned licence holders not to rush to screen football matches through the foreign satellite decoder equipment, as to do so, it would be a copyright infringement of the Premier League - Lancashire licensing solicitor
Karen Murphy is a landlady in Portsmouth that has battled a legal conflict against the Premier League for the last six years, after she was convicted for screening live football in her public house through a Greek channel.
This conviction has now been overturned by the High Court and granted her an appeal, meaning that it isn't illegal to use foreign satellite decoders to screen football matches.
However, it does still violate the Premier League's copyright – for instance, screening the Premier League anthem or showing its emblem – is still a legal offence, meaning pub owners ought to hold tight prior to screening football matches in this way.
The head licensing solicitor for Napthens, Malcolm Ireland, has said: "This is a huge success for the landlady involved, but license holds are currently still in the dark over whether this means foreign satellite decoders can really be used in this manner.
"The ruling means that foreign satellite decoders aren't illegal, but screening Premier League football matches in this way would still be an infringement of copyright if the Premier League anthem or emblems are televised.
"We anticipate further legal clarification and future judgements on the copyright problem, as I would imagine that foreign satellite decoder companies may possibly adapt what elements of the match are televised to avoid violating the copyright law. It is likely that this action will bring about a significant future legal judgement that will give further explanation on this matter.
"In anticipation of this occurrence, I warn pub owners not to hurry out and buy the foreign satellite equipment, as showing Premier League games would still be violating the law."
End
About Napthens
Napthens are legal specialists that operate from four offices based in Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool and Chorley. Napthens provides legal services for local, national and regional clients in Lancashire.
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