Each pub must pay over £10,000 in damages for showing Sky Sports without the correct commercial subscription.
Sky sought and was awarded permanent interdicts (injunctions) in the Court of Session, Edinburgh. Each pub licensee has been ordered to pay damages in the sum of £10,000, plus interest, and must also pay Sky’s costs and fund the publication of notices advertising the orders in local press.
The premises and licensees are:
- Old Govan Arms, 907 Govan Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G51 3DN– Natasha Copeland (Tenant) and Janice Paterson (DPM)
- Stables Bar, 607 Old Edinburgh Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G71 6HJ – M&K Taverns Ltd (Tenant) and Maureen McLaughlin (DPM)
Sky says the move protects those pubs and clubs who have purchased a commercial subscription. The broadcaster also said it was committed to visiting every licensed premises reported by other licensees and organisations for illegally showing Sky.
Earlier this year, the first ever injunction against a licensee in England prohibiting them from screening Sky was issued. Pub landlady Nancy Maxwell became the subject of an injunction prohibiting her from showing Sky at the Railway Tavern, Edmonton Green, London. The injunction also applies to any other premises she becomes involved in.
Sara Stewart, Commercial Compliance Lead at Sky commented:
“Now, more than ever, it’s important to protect the investment of our customers. Businesses that show Sky Sports illegally can leave our legitimate Sky subscribers feeling short-changed.
“We actively visit thousands of pubs every season to monitor the games they are showing to help protect hardworking Sky customers who are unfairly losing business due to this illegal activity.
“Venues who continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law, and are at risk of being caught, which can result in licensees being ordered to pay significant damages and legal costs to Sky, and/or losing their personal licence.”