Satellite battle drags on

European Court move could take two years

The legal battle between the Premier League and two foreign satellite suppliers has been referred to the European Court of Justice — and could drag on for another two years.

The Premier League was seeking a ban on importing, selling, hiring, advertising, installing and maintaining decoders at the High Court.

AV Station and QC Leisure denied breaking copyright law. They claimed attempts to stop them selling decoder cards breach the EC Treaty guaranteeing free trade between member states.

Mr Justice Kitchin said: "The issues in this case have at their heart the proper interpretation of a number of instruments of [European] Community legislation concerning the cross-border broadcasting of television programmes by satellite.

"I believe the issues are so fundamental that they should be considered as a whole by the Court of Justice at the earliest opportunity."

Paul Dixon, who represented AV Station, said: "From the outset we have asserted that the issues we have raised should be considered by the European Court of Justice."

The Premier League said: "Our stance on the illegal supply and use of foreign satellite equipment to broadcast Barclays Premier League football has been unequivocal, and we relish the opportunity for a definitive ruling at the highest possible level, in order to end the confusion we know this issue causes in the licensed trade."

n Host Karen Murphy asked at the High Court for her foreign satellite football appeal to be referred to the European Court of Justice after the ruling on AV and QC. See www.morningadvertiser.co.uk for updates from her hearings.