A Swansea pub landlord "has been hit with a massive legal costs bill after a judge backed lawyers’ claims that he breached the Premier League’s copyright by screening its matches in his hotel," according to Aled Blake of WALES ONLINE. The FA Premier League Ltd. "went to court over copyright infringement" by Anthony Luxton at his pub -- the Rhyddings, in Brynmill -- where it said "various football matches" were screened between September and December '12. The League claimed that "the pub breached strict copyright rules by showing live matches using a satellite card, issued by a Danish broadcaster." The card was only authorized for use in a private home, said the barrister, "and not for use in commercial premises such as the pub." Luxton insisted that the claim against him was an "illicit attempt" to prevent the use of foreign decoder cards and that the League’s claim foundered on the rock of European Union free trade rules. Following a three-hour hearing, Justice Rose granted the League’s application and made a "declaration of infringement." She also "issued an injunction barring further unlawful screenings." Luxton "was also hit with a crushing legal costs bill," which could rise to more than £125,000 ($206,000). The judge directed Luxton to pay £65,000 ($107,107) "on account, pending final assessment of sum he owes" (WALES ONLINE, 1/30).
