Publicans pay thousands in Sky's illegal viewings clampdown

Sky's clampdown on illegal viewings in pubs is resulting in publicans being forced to pay thousands of pounds in damages.

Three licensees in the North East have become the latest to be fined for screening Sky Sports without a commercial viewing agreement.

Colin Pearson of the Spring Inn in Houghton Le Spring, Sunderland, was ordered to pay £22,700 in damages for breach of contract and "flagrant infringement of Sky's copyright".

And the former owner of Strokes in Sunderland, Iain Johnstone, and licensee Diane Lane have also been made to pay £25,000 in damages. This follows the previous conviction of the pair for showing broadcasts without an agreement back in 1999.

Patricia Ann Robson of the Top House, Ryhope, Tyne and Wear, was also ordered to pay £16,300 damages.

These latest convictions come as Sky vows it will continue its fight against licensees who show broadcasts without a commercial licence.

Commercial director Iain Holden warned licensees that a domestic viewing agreement with Sky did not enable pubs to broadcast the programmes to customers and said that the courts had shown they were willing to prosecute licensees who did so.

Matthew Harris, a partner at law firm Herbert Smith which is acting for Sky, explained: "This judgement shows that the civil courts are more than prepared to award damages to broadcasters, such as Sky, where persons screen broadcasts wrongfully in public and try to evade payment of any subscription charge."

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