Premier League wins court order against streaming website FirstRow1

The Premier League has won a court order forcing UK ISPs (internet service providers) to block the Swedish football streaming website, FirstRow1, on the 17/07/2013. The High Court ruled that the site's activity is a "breach of copyright" and will be blocked before the 2013/14 Premier League season begins on the 17/08/2013. FirstRow1 is the first sports-related website to have been blocked in the UK.

"It is absolutely imperative that content industries are afforded protection under the law," a Premier League spokesman said. "The judgement recognises the parasitic nature of the enterprise; this was an out and out commercial operation with estimated revenues of up to £10m (€11.6m) a year, whilst giving nothing back to the sport."

Premier League TV rights in the UK are shared between BT (British Telecom) who have a €289m share, and Sky, who paid €894m for TV rights in 2013/14.

• On the 21/06/2013, the Premier League outlined their planned court order in a letter addressed to the ISPs, and gave a deadline of the 29/06/2013 for the ISPs to signal their intent to challenge the action.