KUALA LUMPUR: A popular ‘Nasi Kandar’ chain felt the full weight of the law as a settlement through a consent judgment at Kuala Lumpur High Court with Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd had cost the eatery a hefty price.
The court-approved agreement required Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to pay Measat, a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad, RM221,773.20 for breaching subscription agreements on unauthorised use of Astro’s pay-TV broadcasts at multiple locations.
Thaqwa only had subscriptions for two specific premises but extended the use to its other eight restaurants without permission through the use of Astro’s smart cards, decoder boxes, and other equipment to access and display Astro content.
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.
Astro Chief of Sales and Marketing, Tai Kam Leong said: “Astro is fully committed to fighting digital piracy, knowing how much it harms the media and creative industry. By taking strong legal steps and protecting intellectual property, Astro helps ensure that creators and artists are paid fairly for their work. This fight is key to keeping the industry alive and thriving, allowing new ideas and content to flourish.”
In a landmark ruling by the High Court in November 2022, it is illegal for commercial premises to show content to the public from unauthorised sources, including Astro broadcasts without the appropriate commercial license.
The Thaqwa settlement is just one of several cases that Astro is actively pursuing to protect its intellectual property rights.
In Ipoh, a 22-year-old was fined RM10,000 in February, after pleading guilty to selling an Android box preloaded with unauthorised Astro content. The device was discovered during a raid in October 2023.
In July, two men in Seremban faced similar charges.
One was caught selling illegal TV boxes at a local shop, pleaded not guilty, and was released on RM7,000 bail, with a trial set for September. Meanwhile, the other pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000, which he paid immediately.
These cases highlight the ongoing efforts by Astro to combat digital piracy and ensure that businesses and individuals respect the terms of their subscription agreements.
For the Bahasa Melayu version of this release, please click the following link: Press Release_PenyelesaianThaqwa_BM.pdf
