Football Association Premier League Limited v British Sky Broadcasting and Others

The High Court has allowed an application by the FA Premier League for an order blocking access to the website known as “FirstRow Sports”.

In the first claim of its kind in the sports broadcasting context, Arnold J made an order under section 97A of the CDPA 1988 blocking access to FirstRow, on the ground that it was using the services of ISPs to infringe copyright in the UK, by communicating unlicensed live coverage of Premier League matches.  The application was supported by a range of sporting rights holders including the Football Association, the Scottish Premier League, the Football League, UEFA, PGA European Tour, Professional Darts Corporation, World Snooker and the Rugby Football Union.

Ian Mill QC and James Segan, instructed by DLA Piper, acted for the Applicants.