[MT] No copyright in live football matches

Abstract

In its 20 April 2012 judgment in the names Dr Henri Mizzi nomine et v. Telestarr Limited (C 8957), the Civil Court, First Hall, had to decide whether there was a breach of copyright law on the part of the defendant company Telestarr Limited. Dr Henri Mizzi was representing The Football Association Premier League (FAPL) Limited of London whilst the other plaintiff was Melita Cable plc which is the sole cable company operating in Malta. The first plaintiff company is the copyright owner of the Premier League of England, while the second company is the licensee of the first company authorised in Malta to cablecast the English Premier League. On the other hand, the defendant company, Telestarr Limited, is a Maltese registered company which sells to consumers decoders and decoder cards such as those of SKY (UK), SKY (Italia), TPS, ART and Digi Alb. According to the plaintiff companies, the defendant company was not authorised to sell cards by means of which viewers could see the English Premier League. [Excerpt]