This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7155939.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Court rules against pub TV appeal Defeat in pub TV football appeal
(about 2 hours later)
The High Court has ruled against parts of an appeal by a landlady convicted of using foreign satellite feeds to show live English Premier League football. A publican has suffered a setback in her High Court battle to use a foreign broadcaster - instead of BSkyB - to show live UK football to her customers.
The appeal was brought by Karen Murphy, landlady of the Red, White and Blue pub in Southsea, Hampshire. Karen Murphy, who runs a pub in Southsea, Hampshire, was appealing against a copyright theft conviction.
It is a test case for pubs throughout the country that use satellite systems from countries such as Greece and Morocco to show live English football. She had used a dish which allowed her to receive UK games from Greek station Nova for £800 a year, instead of paying £6,000 a year for BSkyB.
The appeal may resume to consider aspects of European law in the case. Judges ruled against her appeal but it will now be reconsidered under EU laws.
Lord Justice Pumfrey, sitting with Mr Justice Stanley Burnton, dismissed the appeal based on domestic law. Ms Murphy's use of the Greek equipment also allowed her to show live games on a Saturday afternoon, which the Premier League does not make available to companies broadcasting in England.
He said that BSkyB had the exclusive right to screen or broadcast the matches in question in the UK and it was "apparent" that Ms Murphy knew that was the case. Ms Murphy, who runs the Red, White and Blue pub, had argued she had not committed a crime under UK laws aimed at stopping criminal copyright theft.
In footballing terms we are in the half-time interval Paul Dixon, Karen Murphy's lawyer But Lord Justice Pumfrey, sitting with Mr Justice Stanley Burnton, dismissed the appeal based on domestic law.
He said BSkyB had the exclusive right to screen or broadcast the matches in question in the UK and it was "apparent" Ms Murphy knew that was the case.
The use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in the UK is copyright theft, pure and simple Dan Johnson Premier League
But he added that the court had not heard arguments about whether European competition and free movement legislation might affect the case.But he added that the court had not heard arguments about whether European competition and free movement legislation might affect the case.
The appeal will therefore be reopened for a day next year to decide those issues, he explained. In their statement, the judges said: "So far as the competition law case is concerned, we do not at present follow how it is to be developed, and this appeal must therefore be restored for these points to be argued if that is what the appellant want." they said.
In their statement, the judges said that while they may not have heard some of the arguments, they decided that the "English provisions" are consistent with European Commission legislation. The court granted Ms Murphy permission to reopen the appeal at a one-day hearing in January.
"So far as the competition law case is concerned, we do not at present follow how it is to be developed, and this appeal must therefore be restored for these points to be argued if that is what the appellant want," they said. Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "We hope that publicans and others will now heed the advice of the courts and accept that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in the UK is copyright theft, pure and simple." said league spokesman Dan Johnson.
Saturday afternoon In footballing terms we are in the half-time interval Paul Dixon, Karen Murphy's lawyer
Ms Murphy received feeds of live football and equipment from the Greek broadcaster Nova, which charged her about £800 a year, compared with the £6,000 a year that she would have to pay satellite TV firm BSkyB for the service. But Ms Murphy's lawyer Paul Dixon stressed the case was not yet over.He said: "In footballing terms, we are in the half-time interval, and every football fan knows that the game is never over and nor is the result certain until the final whistle," he said.
It also allowed her to show live games on a Saturday afternoon at 1500, which the Premier League does not make available to companies broadcasting in England.
"We hope that publicans and others will now heed the advice of the courts and accept that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in the UK is copyright theft, pure and simple," said league spokesman Dan Johnson.
'Final whistle'
But Ms Murphy's lawyer Paul Dixon stressed that the case was not yet over.
"In footballing terms, we are in the half-time interval, and every football fan knows that the game is never over and nor is the result certain until the final whistle," he said.
"We have always said that this case is all about European law, and the High Court has not yet heard argument on the European Union issues," he added."We have always said that this case is all about European law, and the High Court has not yet heard argument on the European Union issues," he added.
There are several companies that install foreign satellite equipment in pubs in the UK, including Digital Sales, which is run by Joe Ibrahim.There are several companies that install foreign satellite equipment in pubs in the UK, including Digital Sales, which is run by Joe Ibrahim.
Mr Ibrahim claimed that the ruling was unfair, and not consistent with copyright rules that covered other products.Mr Ibrahim claimed that the ruling was unfair, and not consistent with copyright rules that covered other products.
"If what we're doing is illegal then it will stop people bringing European cars into Britain and if you buy a DVD in Europe and have it shipped to you in Britain then that will be deemed illegal too," he said."If what we're doing is illegal then it will stop people bringing European cars into Britain and if you buy a DVD in Europe and have it shipped to you in Britain then that will be deemed illegal too," he said.