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MUMBAI:
The Delhi High Court has issued an injunction against cable
operators across the country from unauthorised broadcast of
the upcoming India tour of Australia.
The
order was passed in favour of ESPN Star Sports (ESS), the
official broadcaster of the India tour of Australia, in its
suit filed before Justice Sanjay Kishen Kaul of the Delhi
High Court.
ESPN
Software India Pvt Ltd, in its suit before the Delhi High
Court, asserted that it had the sole and exclusive rights
from Cricket Australia (CA) to telecast CA properties in India.
ESPN contended that it expects rampant piracy in certain parts
of the country.
After
this order, anyone showing India tour of Australia through
any unauthorised means or any other channel will be held in
contempt of court and liable for prosecution. The Delhi High
Court has also permitted ESPN to take action against all other
cable operators found to be utilising the feed of ESPN and
Star Cricket without license.
Speaking
on the occasion, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd VP of affiliate
sales, Rajesh Kaul said, "This is a very positive verdict
as it gives a clear signal that piracy will not be tolerated.
We will have a team of observers across the country to ensure
that piracy does not happen, and in case we spot any, we will
align with the police to bring the guilty to the book."
The
High Court has also injuncted unnamed cable operators who
may be found to be indulging in cable piracy of cricket matches
played during the forthcoming India tour of Australia. The
police authorities concerned have been directed to render
all assistance to ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, to enforce
the order of injunction.
The
India tour of Australia involves four test matches followed
by a triangular ODI tournament involving India, Australia
and Sri-Lanka, as well as a Twenty20 between India and Australia.
Star Cricket will exclusively telecast the test series while
Star Sports will broadcast the triangular tournament. The
series, which starts in the last week of December 2007, will
last till March 2008.
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