Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) wins injunction for Sky restraining copyright infringement by Big Wheel Bar

Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) wins injunction for Sky restraining copyright infringement by Big Wheel Bar

The investigators had witnessed that the defendant was showing programs unlawfully

Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP has secured an injunction through the Circuit Court, the Court Service of Ireland, on behalf of Sky Ireland Limited against licenses of pubs, that unlawfully show Sky programs including the English Premier League football matches without having a commercial contract.

Sky claims copyright over the logos and graphics that appear on the screen during those broadcasts. If a Sky program is shown on a premises, without having a commercial contract, it constitutes copyright infringement.

A February 2019 Equity Civil Bill came before Justice Catherine Staines on 12 July 2023 in the Kilkenny Circuit Court on the foot of a Motion for Judgement issued by Addleshaw Goddard in January 2020.

However, none appeared on behalf of the defendant, Liam Glennon of the Big Wheel Bar, Callan, County Kilkenny.

While providing details to the court that the defendant was given proper notice of the proceedings, Sky’s counsel referred to Sections 139(2) and 139(3) of the Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000. He demonstrated that Sky owned the copyright that was allegedly infringed.

The court inspected the reports of the investigators, who visited the Big Wheel Bar premises at regular intervals since 2016. They witnessed that the defendant was showing Sky programs unlawfully.

While seeking judgment for outstanding royalties for five years since 2016, Sky sought injunctive relief and aggravated and/or exemplary damages. This was on the grounds that the defendant repeatedly infringed Sky’s copyright since 2016 and since November 2015, ignored all letters issued on Sky’s behalf.

The court granted a permanent injunction restraining the defendant from infringing Sky’s copyright, and judgment in the amount of €32,538.00. The cost of the proceedings was also awarded to Sky including any that were reserved during the proceedings.

This is one of the cases pursued by Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) on behalf of Sky. It forms a key part of Sky’s commitment to protect pubs that invest in legitimate subscriptions of Sky Sports.

A team of Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) was led by managing associate Robert Dooney.