Licensee fined for illegal Sky screenings
A Liverpool licensee has been ordered to pay £4,500 in fines and costs after screening football matches on Sky using a domestic card.
Patrick Downie of the Downies Bar, Prescot Road in Liverpool pleaded guilty to nine offences of dishonest reception of a television transmission contrary to Section 297 (1) of the Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988.
The magistrates said: "We have had a difficult financial calculation to make in this case because of your financial situation but we cannot overlook that you continually broke the law. Your offending kept escalating.
"We see this as quite horrendous offending by you and the lies you told. You had no commercial agreement whatsoever."
He was fined a total of £2250 and ordered to pay £2250 in costs.
The prosecution was brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT). There have been a total of 900 prosecutions for the offence so far with a further 100 pending.
"Our aim is to help create an effective deterrent to publicans who endeavour to fraudulently show Sky content on their premises," said FACT prosecution manager Stephen Gerrard. "As numerous cases have shown we successfully pursue and prosecute dishonest licensees who are then faced with substantial fines, costs and a criminal record."
A spokesperson for Sky said: "This case demonstrates the seriousness of this issue as courts continue to deliver considerable penalties to licensees who televise Sky content illegally.
"Sky's ongoing support for FACT in prosecuting licensees who break the law demonstrates our commitment to protecting the interests of our legitimate subscribers."
