Under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. § 605), it is illegal to publicize or use communications, such as pay-per-view cable television broadcasts, without authority to do so. A similar statute, The Cable & Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (47 U.S.C. § 553) provides that “[n]o person shall intercept or receive or assist in intercepting or receiving any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so by a cable operator or as may otherwise be specifically authorized by law.” Among the most common anti-piracy lawsuits brought under these statutes are actions by distributors of pay-per-view fighting events, such as boxing or UFC. If your company has been sued for violations of these statutes, you need a cable piracy lawyer to assist you.
Our law firm has represented numerous bars and restaurants accused of committing cable piracy. We recently represented a client who was sued by Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. We were able to get the case against him dismissed completely. If the claims are valid, we have also assisted our clients with obtaining reasonable settlements well below the enormous demands made by the cable companies.
If you own a business entity sued under either of these statutes, or you have been sued individually, contact the North Carolina federal litigation attorneys of Maginnis Howard at (919) 526-0450 to schedule a free case review. You may also send a confidential email inquiry via our contact page.
One of the primary purposes of creating a business entity such as a corporation or a limited liability company is that it can protect the officers, directors, shareholders, and members from personal liability for obligations of the entity. For instance, if the company fails to pay a debt, in most situations, a creditor will not be entitled to pursue the personal assets of the shareholders of the company. However, this does not stop potential plaintiffs from attempting to do so. It is the regular practice of plaintiffs suing under § 553 and § 605 to bring the action against both the business entity and its owners. Plaintiffs routinely filing such lawsuits in North Carolina include Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. and J & J Sports Productions, Inc. These entities distribute the right to publicize pay-per-view events such as boxing and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches.
If you have been sued by either Joe Hand or J & J, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced cable piracy lawyer. While the action is not criminal in nature, there is significant financial exposure for you and your business. Joe Hand and J & J Sports frequently ask the Court for damages in the range of $100,000.00 to $200,000.00. With experienced counsel, the actual judgments are usually only in the $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 range.
Maginnis Howard is a Raleigh business litigation law firm. Our cable piracy lawyers are admitted to practice in all federal courts of North Carolina.
To set up a free consultation regarding claims brought against you under 47 U.S.C. § 553 or 47 U.S.C. § 605, contact a cable piracy lawyer at Maginnis Howard at (919) 526-0450. To send a confidential inquiry regarding your case, please feel free to utilize our contact page.
