One Radio ordered to pay €50,000 in royalties

One Radio has been ordered to pay over €50,000 in damages after a court ruled that it had broadcast music without paying compensation to the copyright holders.

The action for damages was filed by The Performing Right Society Limited. It claimed that from its commencement in October 1994 the station had broadcast music without a licence and without payment of royalties to the persons who held the copyright in the music.

Mr Justice Gino Camilleri in the First Hall of the Civil Court confirmed that in October 2008 the courts had found in favour of the English company and had ruled that One Radio was liable in damages.

In today's judgment the court noted that the English company had limited its actions to broadcasts made by the station between January 1995 and December 1998. These damages were computed to amount to €50,960.