• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

Advice on being sued for showing UFC fights...

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

Marsun

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oklahoma

I just found out I'm being sued for showing a fight illegaly. The problem is I really didn't know I was doing it illegaly. I also found out that the satellite service I was paying for was a "personal" account, call me nieve but I didn't even think about there being a difference.

When I set up the account I called dish and told them I have a restaurant and want to set up sattelite, guy said ok and talked to me about the packages. Well I picked one and he said alright lets set you up when he asked for the name on the account I told him the restaurant name and he said do want it in that or your name and I said well that, and he said he would have to transfer me to someone else and I didnt want to go through that again so I asked whats the difference then if I use my name and he said nothing and we set it up. And when they came to our restaurant and set it up, nothing was said. I did't know any difference this was the first time I ever had a commercial place.

I now found out that some restaurant owners will set up an account at their homes and move the equipment. But that wasn't the case they have our address, I feel it should be alot of there fault more than anything, or atleast the guy who set me up even after telling him I had a restaurant.

Anyways, I've always been a fan of UFC and watched them at home, and decided to rent them here not realizing it was illegal. And then I get a letter today threatening lawsuit of 100K.

Our place isnt big, posted capacity is 96, but that was before we put pool tables in, we could have to lowered if asked.
 


FlyingRon

Senior Member
Ignorance is not an excuse. You're a businessman, and you are expected to understand the aspects of conducting your business. It has nothing to do with how you go the content. It's not up to the satellite provider to regulate this. In fact, it would have been as improper to show it if it had been an OTA broadcast. Churches have run afoul of the NFL for public exhibition of their games. It's the same with music. You have a jukebox or play the radio in your establishment ASCAP and BMI want thier cut.

The advice is to stop infringing. Have you been sued? Have you had a demand for damages sent?
 

Isis1

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oklahoma

I just found out I'm being sued for showing a fight illegaly. The problem is I really didn't know I was doing it illegaly. I also found out that the satellite service I was paying for was a "personal" account, call me nieve but I didn't even think about there being a difference.

When I set up the account I called dish and told them I have a restaurant and want to set up sattelite, guy said ok and talked to me about the packages. Well I picked one and he said alright lets set you up when he asked for the name on the account I told him the restaurant name and he said do want it in that or your name and I said well that, and he said he would have to transfer me to someone else and I didnt want to go through that again so I asked whats the difference then if I use my name and he said nothing and we set it up. And when they came to our restaurant and set it up, nothing was said. I did't know any difference this was the first time I ever had a commercial place.

I now found out that some restaurant owners will set up an account at their homes and move the equipment. But that wasn't the case they have our address, I feel it should be alot of there fault more than anything, or atleast the guy who set me up even after telling him I had a restaurant.

Anyways, I've always been a fan of UFC and watched them at home, and decided to rent them here not realizing it was illegal. And then I get a letter today threatening lawsuit of 100K.

Our place isnt big, posted capacity is 96, but that was before we put pool tables in, we could have to lowered if asked.

okay. i actually know a little bit about this since i tried to set up a showing before.

first off, ignorance is not an excuse.

you have a business. the cable set up should be in the business name. and the fight, showing it at your place of business requires permission from the sport affiliation. and they charge you a nice fat sum for that. the one i wanted to set up, costs $750.00. it's your choice to charge a cover charge to your customers for this event to cover that charge or not. it doesn't change the price package, then, you have to pay the cable companies fees based on it being a business.

you owe the money.
 

Marsun

Junior Member
Yes, I understand now that I should have known that. And to the advice of stop infringing, well I intend to do that, it never was my intention to infringe.

I guess part of my question was do people know how these usually end, settlement amounts, etc...

And also, while yes ignorance of the law is no defense... you can not deny it very often is given some sort of leniency.
 

HomeGuru

Senior Member
Yes, I understand now that I should have known that. And to the advice of stop infringing, well I intend to do that, it never was my intention to infringe.

I guess part of my question was do people know how these usually end, settlement amounts, etc...

And also, while yes ignorance of the law is no defense... you can not deny it very often is given some sort of leniency.

**A: most end in a settlement. Of course they want some $$$$$.
 
Last edited:

Isis1

Senior Member
Yes, I understand now that I should have known that. And to the advice of stop infringing, well I intend to do that, it never was my intention to infringe.

I guess part of my question was do people know how these usually end, settlement amounts, etc...

And also, while yes ignorance of the law is no defense... you can not deny it very often is given some sort of leniency.

at times, possibly. however, not in your case. sorry.
 

scottn

Junior Member
We're in the same boat here unfortunately...

This is my first experience with anything like this, so I would really appreciate some advice. Do we need a lawyer? Or should we contact them ourselves? If so, how should we approach them? Tail between our legs (maybe)? Apologetic (probably)? Respectful (definitely)?
 

Hot Topic

Senior Member
Have a lawyer respond to the correspondence they send you.

And I sense that you still think that what you did shouldn't be held against you.
 

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
Top