Murphy case may delay foreign satellite legal actions
Pubs using EU-based foreign satellite systems may temporarily escape conviction until the Karen Murphy case is heard in Europe.
A letter being sent to licensees in foreign satellite hotspots — seen by the MA —says screenings via domestic cards and systems based outside the EU will be targeted this season.
Although the Premier League and prosecuting agents Media Protection Services (MPS) insist all foreign systems are illegal, the letter from MPS seems to indicate it is unlikely to target those using broadcasting services based in the EU.
But licensees who gamble on using the systems could still face a fine of up to £5,000, lose their personal licence and may be disqualified from being a director of a company for five years if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) rules against Murphy.
In July, the High Court referred Murphy's case and that of suppliers AV Station and QC Leisure to the ECJ — a process that could take up to two years. Murphy, of the Red, White & Blue, in Portsmouth, was appealing against her conviction for screening Premiership football via Greek channel Nova Supersport.
MPS boss Ray Hoskin warned that a major crackdown against foreign satellites was already under way.
A spokesman for the Premier League added: "The fact that elements of this case were referred to the ECJ does not make it legal to use foreign satellite systems from within the EU and we will continue to monitor, advise accordingly and prosecute when appropriate."
What does MPS's letter say?
"Continued use of a BSkyB domestic or non-EU broadcaster's domestic decoder card to access live Premier League football in commercial premises in the United Kingdom, without the payment of the applicable fee, following this warning letter, may render the person or persons responsible for that commercial use of such a broadcast liable to criminal prosecution."
