Premier League Mulling Legal Action Against Web Site Airing Games
The English Premier League (EPL) is “threatening legal action” against video-streaming portal Justin.tv, which is “screening live top-flight English matches for free,” according to Luke Nicoli of the NEWS OF THE WORLD. EPL Communications Dir Dan Johnson said, “We are in contact with this site and their lawyers and are seeking to prevent any further abuse of our rights.” Johnson: “The streaming of live Premier League matches without permission is not only illegal, but also unfair on fans who have paid to go to matches or subscribed to Sky or Setanta.” Setanta Sports Marketing Dir Timothy Ryan: “We believe what Justin.tv is doing amounts to piracy. It contravenes the owners’ rights which has implications for us.” Nicoli reported the Football Association (FA) also confirmed attorneys will be “sending a legal letter” to the Web site. An FA spokesperson said, “We take any infringements of our broadcasting rights very seriously and we will be looking at this particular website very carefully.” Nicoli noted anyone with “legal live access of a game can, via a webcam pointed at their TV screen, upload their feed to Justin.tv for the world to watch.” The live football streams “are by far the most popular area of the site among UK users.” The Scottish FA earlier this year “successfully took action against the website after it showed archived Celtic games in breach of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act” (NEWS OF THE WORLD, 11/2).
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