Two pubs in the Greater Glasgow area have been ordered to pay more than £10,000 in damages after illegally screening games on Sky Sports without a licence.
The owners of the Old Govan Arms in Govan and The Stables Bar in Uddingston have received the hefty fines for infringing the broadcaster's copyright by showing the games without commercial viewing agreement.
The TV giant claimed both establishments were showing football matches without the correct commercial licence required for businesses, Advanced Television reports.
Sky sought and was awarded permanent interdicts in the Court of Session, Edinburgh which prevent bars and anyone acting on their behalf from infringing Sky’s copyright by showing Sky programming without the correct commercial licence.
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Each licensee has been ordered to pay damages in the sum of £10,000, plus interest, and must also pay Sky’s costs and fund the publication of notices advertising the orders in local press.
Following the decision, Sara Stewart, Commercial Compliance Lead at Sky, said: "Now, more than ever, it’s important to protect the investment of our customers. 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 to Sky, and/or losing their personal licence."
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