Satellite trials go to Crown Court
Licensees plan to fight Sky all the way
Five licensees face Crown Court trials in front of a jury for screening football via foreign satellite systems.
They asked for their cases to go to Crown Court after pleading not guilty at Llandudno magistrates' court, North Wales, to breaking copyright law. They complained about the investigation procedures of Conwy Trading Standards, which brought the prosecutions.
Preliminary hearings, where dates and locations will be set for the Crown Court trials, are due at the magistrates' court in May.
Meanwhile, two Derbyshire licensees pleaded not guilty to breaching copyright by using foreign satellites. The trials of Clare Race, of the Blue Stoops, Dronfield, and Andrew Jarvis, of the Yew Tree, Coal Ashton, have been adjourned at Chesterfield magistrates' court until 18 June.
On advice of the European Satellite TV Association (Esta), all seven licensees asked for trials after the final judgement in the High Court appeal of Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy. She is due in court in June, where judges will hear arguments under European competition law.
Esta chairman Colin McGhee said: "These are licensees who are going to stand up to Sky, and who over the next 18 months are going to fight this all the way to the European Court of Justice if necessary."
The five Welsh licensees facing trial are: Dave Fare, Ye Olde Mailcoach, and Andrew Neilson, Bluebell (Conwy); David Owen, Links Hotel, Teresa Dixon, Fairview Inn and John Devonald, formerly of Café Bar (all Llandudno).
