In a landmark case for European broadcasting and for freedom of trade within the European Union, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has just given her view to the ECJ judges on the case of the Media Protection Services (MPS) v Murphy. The case involves Karen Murphy, the landlady of the Red, White & Blue public house in the UK and her use of satellite television. Murphy legally bought a decoder box, subscription card and satellite subscription from the Greek broadcaster NOVA, rather than from Sky TV, with the intention of showing Premier League football matches in her UK pub.
The MPS acts on behalf of the Premier League to protect their TV rights and is tasked with combatting counterfeiting and the infringement of intellectual property rights.
