After nasi kandar place, trouble brewing for local pub for illegally screening Astro channels

Measast Broacast Network Systems files suit against Brew Nation for displaying sports content in premises at Bandar Rembayu via TV box and possibly pirate sites

Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd is suing a pub in Bandar Rembayu for illegally streaming Astro channels. – Wikimedia Commons pic, September 13, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – After winning a RM221,000 suit against a nasi kandar restaurant last month, satellite television provider Astro has its eyes set against a local pub for illegally streaming their channels. 

This is according to an intellectual property suit filed by Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s parent company Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd against Brew Nation (M) Sdn Bhd) at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. 

Based on court documents affirmed by Measat’s general counsel Simon John Hamilton Wilkes on August 22, it is believed that Brew Nation screened Astro’s sports content at their pub in Bandar Rembayu. 

Wilkes said that the pub gained access to Astro’s content through the use of TV boxes and possibly pirate websites as well. 

Measat also mentioned that they would present evidence in court showing Brew Nation made those allegedly illegal streams available to patrons on August 12, 2023. 

“Such acts were done by the defendant (Brew Nation) without paying the relevant subscription and license fees to the plaintiff (Measat),” Wilkes said in court documents sighted by Scoop. 

As a result of the allegations, Measat is seeking an injunction order to prevent Brew Nation from illegally streaming Astro’s content on their premises on top of damages. 

Previously, in a press statement on August 19, Astro entered into a settlement agreement for RM221,000 with nasi kandar chain Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd after accusing the food and beverage business of the unauthorised use of Astro pay-TV broadcast. 

Astro has also gone after other copyright violations, pointing out that a 22-year-old individual in Ipoh was fined for selling Android boxes preloaded with unauthorised content. – September 13, 2024