Delhi HC restrains cable operators across country
By News Agency of Kashmir,
Jammu : The Delhi High Court has restraining all cable operators from unauthorisedly telecasting UFFA EURO 2008 and forthcoming Asia Cup 2008 tournaments through their cable networks.
The Court ordered in favour of ESPN STAR Sports (ESPN), in its suit for permanent injunction filed against cable operators across the country against unauthorized broadcast of the ongoing UEFA EURO 2008(tm) and the forthcoming Asia Cup 2008 starting later this month.
The UEFA EURO 2008(tm) is being telecast on ESPN and STAR Sports and Asia Cup 2008 Cricket tournament will be telecast on ESPN and STAR Cricket.
ESPN in its suit before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court claimed that the defendants, approximately 100 cable operators, are taking unauthorized connections and they are unauthorisedly accessing signals of the plaintiff without taking license from the company.
After this order anyone showing UEFA EURO 2008(tm) and Asia Cup 2008 through any unauthorized means or any other channel will be held in contempt of court and liable for prosecution. The Delhi High Court has also permitted ESPN to take action against all other cable operators not party to the suit but are found to be unauthorisedly utilizing the feed of ESPN, STAR Sports and STAR Cricket.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Rajput, Chief Operating Officer, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, “We are delighted with the verdict. The honorable High Court has made it clear that piracy will not be tolerated. We will have a team of observers across the country to ensure that piracy does not happen and in case we spot any, we will align with the police to bring the guilty to book.”
Justice Sunil Gaur of the Delhi High Court prima facie being satisfied by the material disclosed to it by ESPN, restrained the 100 named cable operators from transmitting and/or telecasting in any manner.
What so ever without license from ESPN the telecast of UEFA EURO 2008(tm) and Asia Cup 2008. The said cable operators have been restrained from telecasting/transmitting any other channel or in any other manner infringing the copyright/re-broadcast right of ESPN STAR Sports.
The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has also injuncted unnamed cable operators who may be found to be indulging in cable piracy of the two tournaments. The concerned police authorities have been directed to render all assistance to ESPN to enforce the order of injunction.