FA Premier League 0 Pub Landlord 2

The last ditch attempt by the FA Premier League to have the
domestic court declare foreign decoders illegal has failed.

This is the latest twist in a long running battle between
the FA and pub landlords over the use of foreign decoders
has worked its way up from the district court to the European
Court of Justice (ECJ) and back again to the High Court.

In October the ECJ ruled against the Premier League finding
that it was not illegal for individuals to buy decoders from
foreign broadcasters (4 October 2011).

That decision was considered by Mr Justice Kitchin in December,
who last week rejected an application for an injunction against
QL Leisure to prevent further copyright abuse - in effect this
meant preventing pubs from playing anthems.

It was an almighty battle - and one that ultimately led
to an own goal.