Attorney Marcos E. Garciaacosta has fought sports copyright Infringement lawsuits against powerful opponents. It’s a niche knowledge that few attorneys have, but he is sharing. Most of these costly lawsuits take place in small mom-and-pop bars and restaurants. These lawsuits may destroy the businesses.
Let Marcos explain how this happens.
A restaurant broadcasts an event such as soccer matches and boxing events due to some request from a potential customer when the establishment does not have a commercial license to show the event.
The law firms protecting intellectual property rights have investigators all over the country to monitor restaurants and bars and the broadcasts they do on their tv sets.
The sports events companies are in their right to protect their property.
Most bars, restaurants, barbers, and salon owners are not knowledgeable about copyrights, TV piracy, or intellectual property rights, especially immigrant-owned businesses in small strip malls. This lack of IP law knowledge makes them the target of unscrupulous firms that abuse what is legitimate enforcement.
Unfortunately, we have encountered that bar and restaurant owners many times are encouraged by supposed customers to tune in to the copyrighted material. It is not difficult to assume that some private investigators entrap restaurant owners.
In some few cases, the investigators posing as customers had taken the tv remote and tuned in the copyrighted material.
You can read about our actions fighting false TV piracy lawsuits by following the links here and here.
TOOL KIT
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How can restaurant and bar owners protect themselves? Can they avoid the actions of unscrupulous lawyers? How to avoid a lengthy and costly lawsuit? Download the tool kit here.
Here are simple considerations.
FIRST, RESPECT COPYRIGHT LAWS
- Do not break any licensing or copyright for special events. That includes not hacking satellite or cable devices. Hacking a system is a violation of copyright laws.
Second, Avoid to Be Framed by the Investigators
- Be aware of the client(s) behavior at all times. If something is off, pay attention.
- Raise your guard if you receive calls asking if your restaurant will be showing a soccer match or a boxing event.
- Be suspicious of persons not ordering any food or drinks
- Do not let anybody take control of your TV remote or web-connected TV
- Do not allow anybody to stream content from a handheld device such as a cellphone. Remember that terms of service are different for each (personal vs. public) environment
- Remember: your business is your private property. You have the right to ask a suspicious person to leave your establishment
- Moreover, If a law firm contacts you accusing you of internet piracy, do not talk to them. First, get a lawyer specializing in copyrights, intellectual property, and piracy cases.
FINALLY, CONTACT ATTORNEY MARCOS WITH QUESTIONS
Attorney Marcos E. Garciaacosta can help you navigate these allegations in a way that makes business sense for you. Call us with your questions for a free, 15 minutes phone consultation with Marcos.