Premier League announces copyright war on foreign decoders
The Barclays Premier League has announced a drive to tackle the use of foreign decoders to transmit live football in the UK.
The league, which is backed by broadcasters BSKyB and ESPN, will aim to use copyright law to stop pub landlords showing football at a cheaper rate than from a licensed, UK transmission.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled late last year that the league and the broadcasters had no power to prevent the use of foreign TV decoders on the grounds that it interfered with territorial exclusive licences, because any such move would amount to a breach of EU laws on competition and the free movement of goods. However, the court left open the copyright avenue, which was confirmed by Lord Justice Kitchen of the UK Court of Appeal on February 3.
“It is clear the law gives us the right to prevent the unauthorised use of our copyrights in pubs and clubs when they are communicated to the public without our authority,” the league said in a statement. “We will now resume actions against publicans who are using European Economic Area foreign satellite systems to show Premier League football on their premises unlawfully and without our authority.”
The league did not say what, if any, action it would take against private individuals using foreign decoders, and it is unclear if it would be able to do anything in that situation.
