The new High Court ruling said that the copyright of the Premier League had been breached by pubs using foreign decoders to show certain parts of live football broadcasts including the organisation's anthem.
A statement for the Premier League said: "Lord Justice Kitchin's judgment is consistent with the ECJ ruling. It is clear that the law gives us the right to prevent the unauthorised use of our copyrights in pubs and clubs when they are communicated to the public without our authority." The satellite broadcaster Sky also said they would work with other broadcasters and the Premier League to protect their current commercial customers.
The judgement follows the decision from the ECJ last October that ruled largely in favour of Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy and against the Premier League. The ECJ said not allowing pubs to use foreign decoders was against EU rules to provide freedom to services. A seperate High Court hearing later this month will examine how the ECJ ruling can be used in Murphy's appeal against prosecution from the Premier League.
