A recent legal case involving a popular nasi kandar chain has sent a clear message to businesses operating in Malaysia: unauthorized use of Astro pay-TV subscriptions can result in significant financial penalties and legal repercussions.
The chain, Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, was ordered to pay over RM200,000 in damages after illegally extending its Astro subscriptions to multiple locations without authorization. The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Thaqwa’s actions constituted a serious infringement of Astro’s copyright and intellectual property rights.
Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd initially had Astro subscriptions for two of its restaurants. However, the chain unlawfully expanded the use of these subscriptions to eight additional outlets by using Astro’s smart cards, decoder boxes, and other equipment to access and display the content.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Thaqwa must pay RM221,773.20 to Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd in a consent judgment. The ruling also requires Thaqwa to restrict its use of Astro subscriptions to the authorized locations and to strictly adhere to Astro’s copyright and intellectual property rights.
This case serves as a stark warning to all businesses: Astro is fully committed to protecting its content and will take legal action against those who violate its terms of service. Digital piracy is not just a breach of contract—it’s a serious infringement that damages the media and creative industries.
Tai Kam Leong, Astro’s Chief of Sales and Marketing, emphasized that enforcing intellectual property rights ensures that creators and artists receive fair compensation, which is essential for sustaining the industry and fostering new content.
The High Court has already made it clear in a landmark November 2022 ruling that commercial premises displaying content from unauthorized sources, including Astro broadcasts, without the proper commercial license, are acting illegally.
The Thaqwa case is not an isolated incident. Astro is actively pursuing several similar cases to protect its intellectual property. Earlier this year, a 22-year-old man in Ipoh was fined RM10,000 after pleading guilty to selling an Android box preloaded with unauthorized Astro content. This device was seized during a raid in October 2023.
In another example, two men in Seremban faced charges for selling illegal Android boxes in July. One pleaded not guilty and was released on RM7,000 bail pending trial, while the other pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000, which he paid immediately.
These cases highlight the serious consequences for businesses and individuals who disregard the terms of their subscription agreements. Therefore, don’t risk your business by engaging in unauthorized use of content—you could face severe financial and legal repercussions.
Source: here
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