Dundee publican fined for showing Sky Sports

David Martin found guilty of contempt of court

The manager of a Dundee pub faces a huge fine after being found in contempt of court for showing Sky Sports without a licence.

Sky obtained a perpetual interdict preventing Lochee Sports Bar, also known as Lochee Sports Club, from showing Sky without the correct commercial contract in December 2015.

Landlord George Stark was fined £10,000 for breaching Sky’s copyright by showing the channel without a licence in January last year.

However, Sky obtained evidence the pub, at 186 High Street, was still showing Sky Sports and so was breaching the interdict.

The pub’s manager David Martin was found to be in contempt of court as a result. He now faces a bill for a proportion of Sky’s legal costs, which amount to more than £25,000.

Sky Sports is only available to licensed premises in the UK via a commercial viewing agreement directly from Sky Business.

Licensees that show Sky broadcasts without a commercial viewing agreement risk similar action or even a criminal prosecution.

George Lawson, head of commercial piracy at Sky, said: “This case highlights the serious consequences for licensees who breach court orders and infringe copyright.

“Licensees who choose to televise content illegally should be aware that they are at high risk of being caught and face substantial penalties.

“We remain committed to visiting thousands of pubs to make sure premises are adhering to copyright law, including those where interdicts have been obtained to ensure the court orders are being complied with.

“If we receive evidence that the court orders are being ignored, we will not hesitate to take the necessary legal action to help ensure that the thousands of law-abiding pubs and clubs who pay for legitimate commercial Sky subscriptions are not short changed.”

A Surrey pub company was ordered to pay an incredible £120,000 fine last year after showing Sky Sports illegally.

Merlin Inns pleaded guilty to 10 offences at Redhill Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay a fine of £90,000 plus nearly £30,000 in costs.

David Martin of Lochee Sports Club must pay a proportion of Sky’s legal costs, which amount to more than £25,000.