Reasons for judgement were released this week by the US District Court, E.D. Louisiana, awarding damages for the piracy of UFC 183.
In the recent case (Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. DML, LLC) the Defendant operated a sports bar which displayed UFC 183 without paying the commercial sub-licencing fee.
The Plaintiff obtained default judgement of $25,000 plus legal fees. In finding this award reasonable District Judge Martin Feldman provided the following reasons:
The Court finds that the plaintiff has demonstrated that it is fair and reasonable to assess against DML and award the plaintiff statutory damages in the amount of $5,000. The Court also finds that the defendant’s interception of the encrypted pay-per-view program in a commercial establishment open to the public is willful and for financial advantage, and therefore finds that the plaintiff is entitled to enhanced damages in the amount of $20,000, which the plaintiff submits and the Court agrees is an amount that will fairly achieve the statutory goals of restitution and deterrence. Finally, the plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees upon submission of a fee application.
Combat Sports Law 