KUALA LUMPUR: Astro has won its second statutory damages award from the Kuala Lumpur High Court after a local pool café was found guilty of copyright infringement through illegally streaming the broadcaster’s English Premier League (EPL) matches.
In a judgement dated January 7, the court ruled in favour of Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn. Bhd—a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad—awarding RM175,000 in statutory damages after Frenz Pool Café and Tuwang 69 Sdn. Bhd. were found guilty of streaming its content without permission.
The case focused on the unauthorized public screening of an EPL match between Manchester United and Brighton on September 16, 2023, aired via Astro Supersport 3. Alongside this, the infringement included the unauthorised use of Astro’s logos and branding elements, which contributed to the ruling.
Lauding the verdict Astro Chief of Sales and Marketing, Tai Kam Leong said: “We’re proud to lead the charge in defending intellectual property, and this is just one more step in our commitment to ensuring that those who profit from stolen content face real, legal consequences. Our work doesn’t stop here, we will continue to take decisive action to protect the value of premium content and create a fairer digital landscape for everyone.”
In addition to the damages, the court issued a permanent injunction against the defendants, barring them from further unauthorised streaming of Astro’s copyrighted content. The defendants were also ordered to pay RM10,000 in legal costs.
This victory follows Astro’s first statutory damages award in November 2024, in a case involving a local pub. Unlike compensatory damages, which require proof of actual losses, statutory damages emphasize deterrence and accountability.
Astro sees this victory as part of its broader commitment to standing up for the creators, talents, and innovation that drive the industry forward.