Mediapro hails Rojadirecta court ruling

Spanish agency Mediapro has hailed a ruling by the commercial court of A Coruña that it believes will lead to the “disappearance” of the Rojadirecta website as a platform for illegal access to football coverage.

Rojadirecta and its owner, Puerto 80, were ordered by the court to curtail operations immediately.

Puerto 80 was also ordered to compensate Mediapro and pay-television channel Gol T for providing illegal access to their football coverage and publicise the decision of the court.

The court ordered Puerto 80 to “immediately cease the facilitation of links or internet links” to coverage.

“Mediapro considers that the judgement establishes an important precedent for the protection and defence of audiovisual rights, since it equates its protection to copyright and is a decisive step towards the eradication of piracy in Spain,” Mediapro said.