[Satellite Today 07-10-09] The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) received a settlement in a broadcasting piracy case against Turtle Cable, accused of operating as an infringing cable TV IP operator in the Philippines, CASBAA announced July 9.
    The association called the settlement a “breakthrough,” providing a legally binding deterrent to prevent pay-TV piracy in the Philippines. “It is a significant step towards guaranteeing copyright protection for broadcasting in the Philippines. The other good news is that Turtle Cable can now resume business as an authorized pay-TV provider. We wish them every success in the future,” Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA, said in a statement.
    The settlement comes a year after a Philippines court served the country’s very first pay-TV temporary restraining order against Turtle Cable after CASBAA filed a series of complaints. The order barred Turtle Cable from redistributing international cable channels for which it does not have a distribution contract. CASBAA said proceedings were about to enter the trial stage before the IP Philippines’ Bureau of Legal Affairs when settlement was reached.
     CASBAA also received an apology letter from Turtle Cable, which it released to the public July 9. “We now recognize that by rebroadcasting the copyrighted television programs, program promotions or any portion of the broadcasts without their authority, we have infringed on their intellectual property rights. The infringement of intellectual property rights is wrong. … We are grateful to CASBAA for terminating its legal action against us and giving us the opportunity to continue our business in a manner that is fair and respectful to the rights of others,” Turtle Cable said in the letter.