Signal piracy allegation raised blockbuster issue

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted September 28, 2022 11:13 AM

Accused of pirating a televised boxing match by streaming the signal via the internet, a Hookah lounge in California presented what the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called “a blockbuster question of first impression” about the Sec. 553 of the Cable Communications Policy Act and Sec. 605 of the Communications Act.If the lounge had intercepted a cable or satellite signal without authorization, it would have violated Sec. 553 or Sec. 605.Instead of paying thousands of dollars for a sublicense from G & G Closed …

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