Back from vacation, relaxed, and ready to get back to work -- sort of.
When I got back, I caught this article over at MMAjunkie.com about the UFC's purported settlement with approximately 500 businesses and/or individuals that had allegedly illegally broadcast UFC events without a proper paid license.
As I posted here about just one of these lawsuits (there are a number of them pending and continually filed), Zuffa alleged violations of the Federal Communications Act (47 U.S.C. 553 and 605) and the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 501).
In its complaint, Zuffa alleges that defendants allegedly intercepted the broadcast of UFC and provides a number of ways this can be done, including, inter alia, using an illegal satellite receiver, splicing a coaxial line running to a residential address, registering a commercial establishment as a residence, and/or taking a lawfully obtained residential box into a commercial establishment.
Bottom line, the crux of Zuffa's claim is that UFC events were broadcast without payment of the appropriate commercial distribution fee.
I am not surprised that Zuffa globally settled these complaints because it is questionable what, if anything, Zuffa really hoped to recover from what are mostly small local bars.
That said, I certainly appreciate that Zuffa wants to send the message that it will not take alleged illegal broadcasts sitting down and will continue to pursue these matters and send a message.
My guess is that the settlement amounts were small given the nature of the defendants generally.
Fight Lawyer
