In a statement, Astro said Thaqwa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd extended the use of its subscriptions at two restaurants to its other eight restaurants without permission.
This was done through the use of Astro’s smart cards, decoder boxes, and other equipment to access and display Astro content.
The settlement, reached through a consent judgment at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, requires Thaqwa to pay Measat Broadcast Systems Sdn Bhd a total sum of RM221,773.20.
As part of the settlement, Thaqwa agreed to use their Astro subscription solely at the authorised locations and to respect Astro’s copyright and intellectual property rights.
“Astro is fully committed to fighting digital piracy, knowing how much it harms the media and creative industry,” Astro chief of sales and marketing Tai Kam Leong said.
“By taking strong legal steps and protecting intellectual property, Astro helps ensure that creators and artistes are paid fairly for their work.
“This fight is key to keeping the industry alive and thriving, allowing new ideas and content to flourish.”
Astro highlighted a landmark ruling by the High Court in Nov 2022 which stated that it was illegal for commercial premises to show content to the public from unauthorised sources, including Astro broadcasts, without the appropriate commercial licence.
The Thaqwa settlement is just one of several cases that Astro is actively pursuing to protect its intellectual property rights.
In February, a 22-year-old man was fined RM10,000 in Ipoh after pleading guilty to selling an Android box preloaded with unauthorised Astro content. The device was discovered during a raid in October 2023.
In July, two men in Seremban faced similar charges.
One man, who was caught selling illegal Android boxes at a local shop, pleaded not guilty and was released on RM7,000 bail, with a trial set for September. Meanwhile, the other pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000, which he paid immediately.
Astro said these cases highlighted its ongoing efforts to combat digital piracy and ensure that businesses and individuals respect the terms of their subscription agreements.