Rulings boost Premier League's position

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The Premier League has claimed that two court rulings last week have bolstered its fight against foreign satellite operators. Sean Bennett, licensee...

The Premier League has claimed that two court rulings last week have bolstered its fight against foreign satellite operators.

Sean Bennett, licensee of the Horseshoe Inn in Radcliffe, Manchester, was fined £2,000 after being found guilty of showing Premiership matches using a foreign satellite operator. He was also asked to pay costs of £2,060.

It came in the wake of a ruling in Portsmouth in which a licensee escaped a fine on the basis she was not acting dishonestly.

Karen Murphy, licensee of the Red, White and Blue in Southsea, Portsmouth, was found not guilty of dishonesty for showing football through Greek operator Nova.

Her defence rested on the fact that she was introduced to the system by her brewery at the time, Gales.

Paul Dixon, head of licensing and regulatory affairs at solicitors Molesworths Bright Clegg, which handled the Murphy case, said: "The issue is whether the publican is guilty in the case brought against them.

"The judge found as a matter of fact that Karen acted honestly throughout and accordingly the charge against her was dismissed."

Mrs Murphy's case resembles that of Rochdale licensee Brian Gannon, who won a Crown Court appeal after the judge said he was not "sufficiently

satisfied" the defendant had acted dishonestly (The Publican, April 17).

Commenting on the latest verdicts, Dan Johnson, chief spokesman for the Premier League, said: "What was pleasing about Mrs Murphy's result was that while she was found not guilty of dishonesty on the facts of

her individual case, the district judge found in favour of Media Protection Services and the Premier League on all the points of law.

"This again proves there are no loopholes and no grey areas when it comes to showing football via foreign satellite systems.

"The message is clear: if publicans knowingly show Premier League matches on anything other than a BSkyB commercial licence they're breaking the law and risk prosecution and ultimately their livelihoods."

Mr Johnson also urged pubs not to believe the "spurious claims" of suppliers of foreign satellite equipment. "As soon as we can, we will be going after the suppliers," he added.

Licensees found guilty of breaching copyright laws face a maximum fine of £5,000.

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