Calif. Cocktail Lounge Pirated UFC Event in 2022, Says Copyright Complaint
Two supervisors of a California cocktail lounge showed a Ngannou vs. Gane Ultimate Fighting Championship event without authorization and without paying a licensing fee, alleged a copyright infringement complaint (docket 8:24-cv-00041) filed Monday in U.S. District Court for Central California in Santa Ana. The UFC event, which originated via a satellite uplink, was subsequently retransmitted via encrypted satellite, cable and IPTV streaming, it said. Plaintiff Ultimate Fighting Championship, which owns rights to the Francis Ngannou vs. Cyril Gane event held Jan. 22, 2022, said defendants Dana Turner of Long Beach, California, and Mira Schoenrock of Peoria, Arizona, principals of Squire Cocktails in La Habra, California, received a commercial benefit by not paying the licensing fee to the plaintiff and obtaining the signal to the broadcast by “alternative means.” UFC seeks statutory penalties of up to $30,000, enhanced damages of $150,000 for willful violation of 17 U.S.C. chapter 504 and attorneys’ fees, costs and interest.