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Super Channel operator Allarco claimed that major retailers including Staples and Best Buy are selling and encouraging the use of piracy devices that undermine its business. However, the company s application for an injunction banning sales has now been denied, with the judge slamming Allarco s application and investigative actions from every conceivable angle.
In September 2019, Super Channel owner Allarco Entertainment filed a lawsuit in Canada’s Federal Court targeting Staples Canada, Best Buy Canada, London Drugs, Canada Computers, several related companies and up to 50,000 ‘John Doe’ customers.
Allarco accused the retailers and their staff of promoting and instructing in the use of ‘pirate devices’, set-top boxes that could enable customers to access infringing content. The complaint was supported by 100 hours of undercover recordings which, according to Allarco, showed prospective customers being instructed how to use software such as Kodi for piracy purposes
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An Alberta judge has shot down a television provider’s attempt to block four major retailers from selling set-top streaming devices, calling their lawsuit “nothing more than an off-target anti-piracy campaign.”
In a scathing decision issued Friday, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michael Lema said Edmonton-based Allarco Entertainment a cable, satellite and streaming company that owns the Super Channel network had failed to make a “serious case” against four companies it accused of selling “pirate devices” that allow users to “steal” Super Channel content.
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EDMONTON An Edmonton entertainment company has lost its initial bid to block the sale of certain TV set-top boxes by four major retailers. Allarco Entertainment, who owns and operates Super Channel Entertainment Network, was seeking to stop the sale of those boxes. It also alleged that staff at four major retailers Staples, Best Buy, London Drugs and Canada Computers were encouraging customers to use the boxes to access pirated programming. But in an April 30 ruling, Alberta Court of Queen s Bench Justice Michael Lema rejected that argument, saying Allarco hadn t proven its business had been impacted because of the boxes and that the devices weren t necessarily illegal.
Alberta judge rejects Super Channel parent s request to block sale of set-top boxes
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated May 3, 2021 at 11:14 am EDT
EDMONTON An Alberta court has rejected an Edmonton company’s request to block four Canadian retailers from selling set-top boxes that allegedly can be used to illegally access its programming offerings.
Allarco Entertainment named Staples Canada, Best Buy Canada, London Drugs and Canada Computers in its application for an injunction to protect its Super Channel pay-television service from intellectual property theft.
Allarco also asked Alberta’s Court of Queen’s Bench to issue an order against an unknown number of unidentified customers of the retailers as well as unidentified equipment suppliers.
Winnipeg Free Press By: The Canadian Press Save to Read Later
EDMONTON - An Alberta court has rejected an Edmonton company s request to block four Canadian retailers from selling set-top boxes that allegedly can be used to illegally access its programming offerings.
A Super Channel logo is shown in a handout. An Alberta court has rejected an Edmonton company s request to block four Canadian retailers from selling set-top boxes that allegedly can be used to give customers access to pirated programming. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
EDMONTON - An Alberta court has rejected an Edmonton company s request to block four Canadian retailers from selling set-top boxes that allegedly can be used to illegally access its programming offerings.