Owners of unlicensed TV signal receivers, confused about a court injunction against the sale of the decoders yesterday, called a broadcasters' association to determine whether they had been violating copyright laws.
The broadcasters won the court injunction on Wednesday at the Court of First Instance against several Hong Kong companies accused of selling unauthorised pay television services.
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa), which represented the six broadcasters who sued, said it received 15 calls from TV viewers confused about Wednesday's judgment. Many were apparently unaware the decoders and satellite dishes they bought to receive signals broadcast from Thailand were unlicensed. 'They thought it was perfectly legal, or that's what the companies that sold them the equipment told them,' a spokeswoman said.
She said the broadcasters were not after those who bought the equipment, but aimed to stop it being sold. They included Star TV (Star Movies and Star World), CNN, the Turner Entertainment Network (Cartoon Network), ESPN and Star Sports, Discovery Channel and NGC Network (Adventure One and National Geographic).
There are about 70,000 unauthorised connections in Hong Kong that enable viewers to receive signals from Thailand. The court ruled on Wednesday that selling decoders and other equipment in Hong Kong to receive signals licensed only outside Hong Kong was a breach of copyright.
Two companies settled before the court ruling, leaving Gamestar Technology, JP Technology, Tongyong Youhe and Yau Po Satellite Company named in the writ.
