Pretty elaborate if it is.blahblah wrote:Is it possible the email is an elaborate hoax?
For those that are interested here is some background reading about the copyright issue of EPL Fixtures which has been going on for years:
http://www.fiso.co.uk/articles/232/Lega ... tures.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I know it's a shame for you guys to lose the game (at least until the courts rule against the FA/Dataco) but I don't want to run the risk of them taking action against me or FISO Ltd. Forking out a few grand or so a year to licence fixtures that only fiso members can see for a game that only a few hundred people are playing is also not an option.
As an aside, one of the impacts of the FA/Dataco's actions is of course that it's own Fantasy Football game (FPL) goes from strength to strength because smaller games cannot afford the fixture licence fee - so FPL has very little competition apart from a few games run by newspapers (plus OFL). Bit of unfair competition for the smaller guys.
Copy of the email received (no mention from Jack that I couldn't publish it and I suspect they'll be happy about the 'word of Dataco being spread'):
'Dear Sirs,
NetResult Internal Reference: DataCo_NRID 08988
We write on behalf of the Football Data Co Limited which is the appointed
licensee of the FA Premier League, the Football League, the Scottish Premier
League and the Scottish Football League ("the Leagues") in respect of the
licensing of certain intellectual property rights of the Leagues, including
those in Fantasy Football Games, for use by third parties.
We have noticed that your website
http://fiso.co.uk/games/pred/modules.ph ... redictions" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
is displaying Football Fixtures in connection with a Fantasy Football
Prediction Game without permission. In order to display this content you
must obtain the necessary licence from Football DataCo Limited.
If you have inadvertently infringed our clients' copyright please take
immediate steps to contact Football DataCo (Email:
jcasbon@football-dataco.com) to obtain the appropriate licence. Please
confirm to us by e-mail that you are now seeking an appropriate licence.
Because of the time sensitive nature of the Fixture Lists you are required
to remove them immediately from your site pending the granting of a licence.
We wish to make you aware that we have a good faith belief that your present
use is an infringement of the Leagues' legal rights and that all such
unauthorised use must cease immediately. Please confirm by return your
agreement to this and give your undertaking to cease all such infringements
on any and all of your web sites. Pending your response the Leagues' rights
are fully reserved.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Jack Newton
NetResult
A Division of Projector NetResult Ltd
Broadway House,
2-6 Fulham Broadway,
London,
SW6 1AA
http://www.nr-online.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and copy of signed attached pdf letter on Football Dataco letterhead:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
28 January 2010
Dear Sirs
NetResults Limited
I am the General Manager of Football DataCo Limited.
Football DataCo Limited is owned by The FA Premier League Limited and The Football League
Limited and was established for the purpose of developing, commercially exploiting and protecting
their intellectual property rights in the fixture lists, data and still-images on a worldwide basis.
Under separate agreements the Scottish Premier League Limited and The Scottish Football League
have appointed Football DataCo Limited to develop, commercially exploit and protect their
intellectual property rights in the fixture lists and data on a worldwide basis.
Football DataCo Limited requires any third party that wishes to use or reproduce the fixture lists,
data or photographs to obtain the appropriate licence and pay the appropriate fee(s).
I hereby confirm that NetResult, a Division of Projector NetResults Ltd of Broadway House, 2-6
Fulham Broadway, London SW6 1AA is authorised to undertake the following tasks for and on
behalf of Football DataCo Limited:
• Identify infringements of the intellectual property rights in the fixture lists and data owned by
the respective football league(s).
• Take appropriate action to prevent the unauthorised use of the fixture lists and data by
unlicensed third parties.
• Identify unlicensed use of photographs from football matches that take place under the
auspices of the respective football league(s).
• Take appropriate action to prevent the unauthorised use of photographs by unlicensed third
parties.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully
David Folker
for and on behalf of Football DataCo Limited'