A Dundee publican who illegally screened three Sky Sports football matches has been fined £1,500.
A court heard that Ross’s Bar publican Brian Mackie was caught after a “mystery shopper” visited the pub and discovered the games were being shown through a domestic satellite subscription.
Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin said the fee to Sky to show the games commercially should have been around £5,000.
The court was told that there were only four customers watching the match when the “mystery shopper” visited.
Gary Fowlis, defending, said the pub, which Mackie runs with his wife, had only been making £182 per week and that his client could not afford to pay the commercial rate for screening the matches.
Mr Fowlis said: “This conviction could have implications on his position as a licence holder.”
Mackie, 50, of Gillburn Road, admitted three charges of broadcasting football matches with intent to avoid payment at Ross’s Bar in Baffin Street between November 10 last year and January 19.
Sheriff Charles McNair told Mackie: “This is a serious offence. Those who breach copyright are effectively committing theft of intellectual property.
“By rights I should make a compensation order.”