Pub appeal denied in Premier League broadcasting case

Karen Murphy, a landlady who runs the Red, White and Blue Pub in Southsea, Hampshire had her appeal against a conviction for illegally accessing English football matches denied by the High Court.

Murphy was convicted of using foreign satellite feeds to access the Premier League. Lord Justice Pumfrey, sitting with Mr. Justice Stanley Burnton, dismissed the appeal based on domestic law.

Pumfrey said Murphy knew Sky had Premier League home rights. He also said the court had not heard arguments about whether European competition and free movement legislation might affect the case.On that basis, the appeal will be reopened for a day next year to decide those issues.

Murphy received feeds of live football and equipment from Greek broadcaster Nova. She paid a GBP 800 a year fee for it. Sky charges GBP 6,000 for its setup. Nova allowed Murphy to show live Saturday afternoon matches at 1500. That is not available to companies broadcasting in England.

"We hope that publicans and others will now heed the advice of the courts and accept that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in the UK is copyright theft, pure and simple," said Dan Johnson, Premier League spokesman.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.