KUALA LUMPUR – Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a company operating nasi kandar eateries, will have to fork out over RM221,000 to settle a suit for the unauthorised use of Astro pay-TV broadcast.
Following a statement by Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd, despite only having a subscription to broadcast in two specific locations, the restaurant chain displayed Astro’s content in other locations through the use of smart cards, decoder boxes, and other equipment.
For flouting the subscription agreement, it is understood that Thaqwa entered a consent judgment to settle the matter with Astro subsidiary Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd and paid RM221,773.20 in compensation.
“As part of the settlement, Thaqwa agreed to use their Astro subscription solely at the authorised locations and to respect Astro’s copyright and intellectual property rights,” the statement said.
Astro said that its settlement with Thaqwa is only one of the few cases where the company has initiated legal action in court to protect its intellectual property rights.
It also pointed out another recent incident where a 22-year-old in Ipoh was fined for selling Android boxes preloaded with unauthorised content. This was uncovered during a raid last year.
Referencing a 2022 high court ruling, it said that it is illegal for commercial premises to display content from authorised sources to the public without the appropriate license.
Citing Astro’s marketing and sales chief Tai Kam Leong, the company is committed to combating piracy due to its negative impact on the media industry.
“By taking strong legal measures and protecting intellectual property, Astro ensures that creators and artists are fairly compensated for their work. This fight is crucial to keeping the industry alive and thriving, allowing new ideas and content to flourish,” Tai said. – August 19, 2024