FACT brought the criminal prosecution against Maurice Edwin Jones, the Licensee of the Red Lion Inn in Mold, North East Wales, at Mold Magistrates Court on November 12, 2024.
He was found guilty in his absence of two offences in relation to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming. As the designated premises supervisor of the Red Lion Inn, Mr Jones was ordered to pay total fines and costs of £3,074.80.
The proceedings determined that the Licensee had broadcast Sky Sports football matches without a legitimate commercial viewing agreement, aiming to avoid payment of the relevant commercial subscription fee.
Business premises that show Sky broadcasts without a commercial viewing agreement risk facing similar action or potential civil legal proceedings.
Further reading
Licensee of Red Lion Inn in Wales fined for illegally screening Sky Sports. Press release. November 13, 2024. FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft, UK)
Why it matters
Sky Sports content is only available to licensed premises through authorised commercial viewing agreements from Sky Business.
