Israel Sports Betting Board wins court case on the use of English league games fixtures

2008-07-07

The Israel Sports Betting Board wins an important and fundamental court case. Tel Aviv District Court Judge, Zippora Baron, dismissed the claims of 5 English companies to recognize their sole rights as owners of the various English Leagues Fixtures, which they prepare each season, and grant them a judgment that declares that the Israel Sports Betting Board made use of the fixtures in infringement of their sole rights.

Judge Baron, in her decision, declares explicitly that in her opinion the games fixtures cannot be considered as protected "work of art". The judge in her verdict claimed "there is no rational that in creating the games fixtures the public has a special benefit, and that the public has an interest to limit this knowledge".

As to the use that the Israel Sports Betting Board has made of the games fixture, the judge claimed that "the games fixtures are published in the various media months before the Board makes any use of the information included in the fixtures. In any case the Board does not make use of the fixtures but a limited usage of the  information that it takes and prepares and lists for its own needs".

The 5 companies were sentenced to pay NIS40,000 court costs.

The Israel Sports Betting Board was represented by Attorneys Asaf Posner and Tony Grinman.

Source:

Israel Sports Betting Board

Contact:

Baruch Dagon
International Relations Manager ISBB
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