Astro Malaysia secures court orders against F&B outlets illegally streaming its content

Astro Malaysia has brought civil claims in the Kuala Lumpur High Court against two F&B outlets after gathering evidence that they were streaming and showing pirated Astro content to customers in their premises, according to a statement by the platform. 

The outlets include Restoran Jamal Mohamed and Sheriff in Petaling Jaya, as well as SDP Bistro in Taman Molek.

Don't miss: Astro Malaysia Holdings to invest RM300 million in local content for FY2023

Astro was subsequently able to secure a declaration from the High Court that the outlet owners’ acts of screening and showing Astro copyrighted content to the public in their business premises without Astro’s consent or licence was an act of copyright infringement, pursuant to Section 36 of the Copyright Act 1987.

The two outlets and their owners have admitted their misconduct and have ceased from infringing the Astro copyrighted content. Restoran Jamal Mohamed and Sheriff has also committed to a legal Astro subscription.

Astro’s civil claims against these F&B outlets were based on the precedent set by the High Court’s landmark ruling that it secured with the Premier League in November 2022. The ruling made it clear that it is illegal for commercial premises to show content to the public from unauthorised sources, including Astro broadcasts without the appropriate commercial license.

In a separate case, directors of Robataya, who owns Scotsman Yakatori Bar in Petaling Jaya, issued a public apology to Astro for showing unauthorised Astro content, after being issued a cease-and-desist letter. Robataya has entered into a settlement agreement with Astro, admitting to its wrongdoing and signing up to a legal Astro subscription. "We acknowledge that copyright infringement through illegal streaming of unauthorised content is wrong and would have adverse consequences to the content and media industry as well as the global economy," Robataya said.

“We welcome these positive outcomes from our legal actions against commercial establishments that have been illegally streaming and showing unauthorised content to their customers. We are sending out a strong message that tough measures will be taken against anyone who is found guilty. Piracy deeply hurts our ability to keep serving fans of our content and erodes our ability to make further investment in premium sport for Malaysians,” said Tai Kam Leong, the chief sales and marketing officer at Astro said.

He added that piracy impacts the whole content industry and significantly damages the Malaysian economy. "We will continue to protect both Astro’s business and our thousands of legitimate customers against those who profit from piracy. We are committed to working closely with the authorities, industry players and stakeholders in battling this theft.” Tai explained.

Earlier this year, Astro Malaysia Holdings joined forces with Qalbox by Muslim Pro, an entertainment streaming service known for its global Muslim content, in order to exclusively stream Muslim-focused content in Malaysia. The strategic alliance is in line with Muslim Pro’s aim of becoming the digital home for all things Muslim and offers Astro’s customers a greater selection of enriching Muslim-centric content, elevating the entertainment experience for viewers across the country.

Join #PRAsia on 2 November in Singapore and 8 November in Malaysia, connecting 100+ PR and communication leaders worldwide to share ideas, forge partnerships, and unlock endless possibilities.

Related articles:
Astro MY and Muslim Pro join forces to improve focus on Muslim content
Astro Malaysia Holdings to invest RM300 million in local content for FY2023
Kartoon Studios enters MY with branded block on kid's channel Astro Ceria