KUALA LUMPUR: A popular nasi kandar restaurant chain Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has agreed to pay RM221,773.20 to Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd for illegally broadcasting Astro content.
Astro head of sales and marketing Tai Kam Leong said the restaurant only had valid subscriptions for two premises but it had aired Astro broadcasts in eight of its other restaurants without permission using devices such as smart cards and Astro decoders.
"In a settlement made through a consent judgement at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, the company agreed to pay RM221,773.20 to Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd, for breaching subscription agreements on unauthorised use of Astro's pay-TV broadcasts at several restaurant branches owned by the company involved,” he said in a statement issued by Astro on Monday (Aug 19).
"As part of the settlement, Thaqwa also agreed to use their Astro subscription solely at the authorised locations to respect Astro's copyright and intellectual property."
He said Astro is very committed to fighting digital piracy because it is aware how much it harms the media and creative industries.
"By taking firm legal action and protecting intellectual property rights, Astro helps ensure that creators and artists are fairly compensated. This effort is important to keep the industry alive and growing, and to open up space for new ideas and content to flourish" he said.
Tai said in Malaysia, it is an offence for any commercial premises to show broadcasts to the public if the content is taken illegally, including broadcasting Astro shows without a valid commercial licence.
He said this case is one of many cases being handled by Astro to protect its intellectual property rights.
He said last February, a 22-year-old individual was fined RM10,000 after pleading guilty to illegally selling an Android box loaded with illegal Astro content. The device was found in a raid in October 2023.
"In July of the same year (2023), two individuals in Seremban also faced similar charges. One of them was arrested for selling illegal TV boxes in a shop,” he said.
"The suspect pleaded not guilty and was released on RM7,000 bail pending trial in September, while the second individual pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000, with immediate payment," he also said.
He added that these cases reflect Astro's hard work in fighting digital piracy and ensuring businesses and individuals comply with Astro's subscription terms.- Bernama
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