Slew of Calif. Bars Targeted for Showing Soccer Match Without Licenses

Tenafly, New Jersey-based Innovative Sports Management, d/b/a Integrated Sports Media, filed four separate Communications Act complaints Oct. 5 and 6 in three California jurisdictions, alleging a slew of bars and restaurants “intercepted” and displayed the October 2021 soccer match between Brazil and Colombia for which it had the exclusive closed-circuit rights in North America. The match originated via satellite uplink and was subsequently retransmitted to cable systems and satellite companies via satellite signal to Integrated’s lawful sublicensees, said one complaint (docket 2:22-cv-07269) in U.S. District Court in San Jose that typified the others. The match “could only be exhibited in a commercial establishment in California if said establishment was contractually authorized to do so” by Integrated, it said. All the defendants are guilty of the willful and unauthorized interception and display of the match “for purposes of direct and/or indirect commercial advantage and/or private financial gain,” it said. The complaints seek statutory damages of $100,000 for each willful violation of the Communications Act. The various defendants didn't respond to requests for comment.