Sky awarded damages for rights infringement
July 26, 2023
By Colin Mann
Following successful legal action taken by Sky, represented by Elizabeth-Jane Walsh BL, a licensee in Callan Co Kilkenny in the Republic of Ireland has been ordered to pay €32,538 in damages for infringing Sky’s copyright by showing Sky Sports programming illegally in their premises. An Order for costs has also been awarded against the licensee.
A permanent court injunction prohibiting the licensee from showing Sky programming in the premises without the correct commercial viewing agreement from Sky Business has been granted on the grounds that the Defendant has repeatedly been infringing Sky’s copyright since 2016.
The premises and licensee are:
The Big Wheel , Green Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny R95 KT26 – Liam Glennon (Licensee)
This successful case comes from Sky’s instruction of intellectual property legal experts Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP and forms a key part of Sky’s commitment to protecting pubs who invest in legitimate Sky Sports subscriptions. Sky is committed to visiting every licensed premises reported by other publicans and/or organisations for illegally showing Sky and have arranged to visit hundreds of pubs each week in towns and cities across Ireland this season.
“Now more than ever it’s important to protect the investment of our customers,” asserts Sara Stewart, Head of Compliance at Sky Business.” “Businesses that show Sky Sports illegally can leave our legitimate Sky subscribers feeling short-changed. We actively visit thousands of pubs every season to monitor the games they are showing to help protect hardworking Sky customers who are unfairly losing business due to this illegal activity.”
“Venues who continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law, and are at risk of being caught, which can result in licensees being ordered to pay significant damages and legal costs,” she warns.