Premier League plans more action against suppliers

The FA Premier League (FAPL) is planning further legal action against suppliers of foreign satellite equipment following proceedings launched last month.

A High Court civil writ has been issued by the FAPL against Durham-based company QC Leisure - which supplies live Premiership football to pubs via foreign TV satellite channels.

And the FAPL is now looking to take action against more suppliers. "There are plans to issue more writs as soon as is logistically possible," said Dan Johnson, the FAPL's chief spokesman.

He said the writ against QC Leisure was a "statement of intent". "We are confident we will be successful", he added.

It is hoped that this case will clarify the legality for licensees of showing Premier League football with foreign satellites.

QC Leisure is being challenged on two major points. The FAPL will claim the equipment the company has been selling enables people to view overseas transmissions which they are not entitled to do so, under copyright law.

Secondly, it will argue that by encouraging people to buy encryption cards and "guaranteeing" they are legal, it is procuring publicans to break the Premier League's copyright.

The deadline for QC Leisure to submit its defence is next week.

A spokesman for QC Leisure, said: "It is a blatant attempt to frighten us and other suppliers financially by using the threat of a High Court action to do so is also an attempt to defame the business practices of QC Leisure in the hope of damaging business to a point where QC Leisure back down for fear of financial ruin."

Meanwhile, two of the Portsmouth licensees who escaped prosecution last year for showing foreign broadcasts, on the basis they were unaware they were acting dishonestly, are due to appear in court again on January 25. Karen Murphy and Derek Hopper, part of the Portsmouth Five, will face charges of breaching copyright laws.