Devilfish
15th February, 2008, 03:11 PM
Five licensees have been prosecuted this month for using domestic contracts to screen Sky football matches.
One host had his personal licence suspended for seven days - and another was ordered to pay ?10,000 - as action against domestic screenings intensifies.
Gordon Leslie Hall of the Britannia, Oldham, Lanca-shire, suffered the licence suspension and was fined ?1,000 and ordered to pay ?832.73 costs. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonest reception of a television transmission at Oldham Magistrates Court.
Brian Easton of the Golden Lion, London Colney, Hert-fordshire, was convicted of two counts of the same offence by St Albans magistrates. He was fined ?1,000 and ordered to pay ?1,000 costs and a huge ?8,000 in compensation to Sky.
Three other hosts were fined ?1,015 after admitting two offences.
Norman Tooth of the Horse and Jockey, Heywood, Greater Manchester, was ordered to pay ?3,550.99 costs.
Rochdale magistrate DJ Barker said: "Discourage-ment was needed to be sent out to those who falsely use Sky broadcasting equipment because these offences are all too prevalent.
"There must, therefore, be a strong deterrent element in any sentence passed. However, this needed to be balanced against what in this case was a man with a very limited income."
The two other licensees - Patrick Quinn of the Nightingale, Nightingale Lane, London N8, and Katherine Longstaff of Dukes, Duke Street, Darlington - were ordered to pay costs of ?1,500 and ?500 respectively.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) claimed there had been more than 700 similar prosecutions to date.
This includes 142 this football season. More than 100 further court cases are scheduled or pending.
Fact's prosecuting manager Stephen Gerrard said: "We will continue to see licensees pay substantial fines if they persist in breaking the law in this way."
Two victories for Scottish Premier League
Football chiefs have notched up victories against foreign satellite screenings at three pubs in Scotland this month.
Two Glasgow pubs were banned from screening Scottish Premier League matches using foreign satellite systems. The Scottish Premier League (SPL) obtained interim interdicts against the Arlington Bar and the Old Empire Bar.
Only days earlier, the English Premier League obtained an interim interdict
against the Town House in Dundee for screening games from that league.
Interim interdicts ban licensees from using foreign satellite decoders to screen matches.
An SPL spokesman said: "Working with our clubs and other football authorities, we will continue to monitor licensed premises and will take all necessary court action against offending pubs and clubs.
"We have received widespread support for our actions from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and law-abiding licensees across the country."
One host had his personal licence suspended for seven days - and another was ordered to pay ?10,000 - as action against domestic screenings intensifies.
Gordon Leslie Hall of the Britannia, Oldham, Lanca-shire, suffered the licence suspension and was fined ?1,000 and ordered to pay ?832.73 costs. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonest reception of a television transmission at Oldham Magistrates Court.
Brian Easton of the Golden Lion, London Colney, Hert-fordshire, was convicted of two counts of the same offence by St Albans magistrates. He was fined ?1,000 and ordered to pay ?1,000 costs and a huge ?8,000 in compensation to Sky.
Three other hosts were fined ?1,015 after admitting two offences.
Norman Tooth of the Horse and Jockey, Heywood, Greater Manchester, was ordered to pay ?3,550.99 costs.
Rochdale magistrate DJ Barker said: "Discourage-ment was needed to be sent out to those who falsely use Sky broadcasting equipment because these offences are all too prevalent.
"There must, therefore, be a strong deterrent element in any sentence passed. However, this needed to be balanced against what in this case was a man with a very limited income."
The two other licensees - Patrick Quinn of the Nightingale, Nightingale Lane, London N8, and Katherine Longstaff of Dukes, Duke Street, Darlington - were ordered to pay costs of ?1,500 and ?500 respectively.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) claimed there had been more than 700 similar prosecutions to date.
This includes 142 this football season. More than 100 further court cases are scheduled or pending.
Fact's prosecuting manager Stephen Gerrard said: "We will continue to see licensees pay substantial fines if they persist in breaking the law in this way."
Two victories for Scottish Premier League
Football chiefs have notched up victories against foreign satellite screenings at three pubs in Scotland this month.
Two Glasgow pubs were banned from screening Scottish Premier League matches using foreign satellite systems. The Scottish Premier League (SPL) obtained interim interdicts against the Arlington Bar and the Old Empire Bar.
Only days earlier, the English Premier League obtained an interim interdict
against the Town House in Dundee for screening games from that league.
Interim interdicts ban licensees from using foreign satellite decoders to screen matches.
An SPL spokesman said: "Working with our clubs and other football authorities, we will continue to monitor licensed premises and will take all necessary court action against offending pubs and clubs.
"We have received widespread support for our actions from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and law-abiding licensees across the country."