Pa. Tavern Illegally Showed Fighting Match, Says FCA Complaint

A Feasterville, Pennsylvania, bar showed a Conor McGregor vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone Ultimate Fighting Championship match without authorization, alleged a Tuesday piracy complaint (docket 8:23-cv-160) in U.S. District Court for Middle Florida in Tampa. Plaintiff Joe Hand Promotions held exclusive public display rights for the Jan. 18, 2020, match and didn’t authorize defendant Hole in the Wall Bar to show the program in its establishment, the complaint said. Individual consumers could stream the match through a legitimate online distributor for noncommercial use, but some commercial locations would buy the program for viewing on a personal device or in a residence, “then proceed to link this device” to the establishment’s TV screens to “unlawfully exhibit” it commercially, the complaint said, citing one of the ways venues pirate sports events. The plaintiff seeks $110,000 for willful violation of the Federal Communications Act, statutory damages of $150,000 for copyright infringement, plus attorneys’ fees and legal costs.