This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7348839.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Premiership TV case goes to court Premiership TV case goes to court
(1 day later)
The Football Association (FA) has launched a court case to stop UK residents watching Premiership football games broadcast by foreign TV stations. The Premier League has launched a court case to stop UK residents watching Premiership football games broadcast by foreign TV stations.
The FA is seeking damages and a High Court order against two firms accused of supplying cards that decode TV signals from Greece and North Africa. The league is seeking damages and a High Court order against two firms who supply cards that decode TV signals from Greece and North Africa.
The two firms, QC Leisure and AV Station, say their sales are legal under European law.The two firms, QC Leisure and AV Station, say their sales are legal under European law.
But the FA said their actions were a "good old-fashioned rip-off." But the league said their actions were a "good old-fashioned rip-off."
James Mellor QC, who represents the FA, said the companies were illegally infringing the FA's copyright. James Mellor QC, who represents the Premier League, said the companies were illegally infringing the FA's copyright.
"It is about dealers making a fat profit. All they do is get hold of a foreign card and apply a substantial mark up of up to 100%," he said."It is about dealers making a fat profit. All they do is get hold of a foreign card and apply a substantial mark up of up to 100%," he said.
"How do they get hold of these cards? They get them through deception," he added."How do they get hold of these cards? They get them through deception," he added.
PubsPubs
Mr Mellor told the court that pubs in the UK were obliged to pay a commercial subscription to Sky TV if they wanted to show live football matches to their customers.Mr Mellor told the court that pubs in the UK were obliged to pay a commercial subscription to Sky TV if they wanted to show live football matches to their customers.
Breaching this obligation was a breach of contract and a criminal offence, he argued.Breaching this obligation was a breach of contract and a criminal offence, he argued.
He said that more than 180 pubs had already been prosecuted for using domestic Sky cards on their premises.He said that more than 180 pubs had already been prosecuted for using domestic Sky cards on their premises.
And he argued that using a domestic card from a foreign country was equally illegal.And he argued that using a domestic card from a foreign country was equally illegal.
He said the cards in question were not meant to be used outside their home countries and had been obtained by the defendants using false names and addresses in Greece and North Africa.He said the cards in question were not meant to be used outside their home countries and had been obtained by the defendants using false names and addresses in Greece and North Africa.
The two companies will argue that EU law lets goods move freely throughout the European Union and that if they are available they can be sold anywhere in the EU.The two companies will argue that EU law lets goods move freely throughout the European Union and that if they are available they can be sold anywhere in the EU.