The High Court has ruled against a landlady who was convicted of illegally showing live English Premier League football.
Karen Murphy, landlady of the Red, White and Blue pub in Hampshire, was told she was not allowed to show matches broadcast from satellite feeds intended for non-UK countries, reports the BBC.
The test case was brought by the Premier League.
The league does not permit the broadcasting of games on Saturday afternoons, because of the fear that attendances at grounds would drop.
Speaking to the BBC, Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "We hope that publicans and others will now heed the advice of the courts and accept that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in the UK is copyright theft."
The case was heard under UK law and the court may now have to consider if European law has any bearing on the case.
Last year the Morning Advertiser reported that the pub trade had strongly criticised Sky for a subscription increase of more than 13% which came in to affect in August.
