Co Kildare publican is ordered to pay significant amount of money for showing Sky Sports to customers without commercial agreement from Sky
Following successful legal action taken by Sky, Patrick O’Brien licensee of a premises trading as Behans, also known as O’Brien’s in Timolin, County Kildare has been ordered to pay €19,152 in damages for breaching copyright by showing Sky Sports to customers without a commercial agreement from Sky. He has also been ordered to pay costs which are estimated at €6,000. A permanent court injunction prohibiting him from showing Sky programming in the premises without the correct commercial viewing agreement from Sky Business has also been awarded as well as an order to give up all items/protection defeating devices in his possession, power, custody or control.
Sky brought these civil proceedings against the licensees for infringing its copyright by showing Sky Sports to customers without having valid commercial viewing agreements in place. Sky Sports is only available to licensed premises in Ireland via a commercial viewing agreement from Sky Business or Virgin Media. Licensees that show Sky broadcasts without a commercial viewing agreement risk similar action or even a criminal prosecution.
George Lawson, head of commercial piracy at Sky, said: “Orders like these result from some licensees thinking they are above the law. The message is clear – if you choose to televise content illegally then you run the very real risk of being caught and facing substantial penalties."
Mr Dawson said: "Illegal broadcasting is a serious issue that is damaging to the pub industry, which is why we’re committed to protecting Sky customers who are unfairly losing business due to this illegal activity. These cases are just the latest in our efforts to ensure they are not left short changed.”
A spokesperson from the Premier League added: “Live Premier League matches are only available in Ireland via Sky Sports and BT Sport. This case demonstrates that pubs who show matches via any other means are risking legal action.”
These successful cases come from Sky’s instruction of intellectual property experts Eugene F Collins and form 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 has made arrangements to visit hundreds of pubs each week in towns and cities across Ireland this year.