Tommy Fleming wins €150,000 copyright award against Irish TV

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Singer Tommy Fleming, his wife and manager Tina Mitchell Fleming, and their company TF Productions were awarded €150,000 in damages against Irish TV by the High Court. The proceedings were reported on 26 July 2017.

They sued after Irish TV broadcast a promotional DVD relating to Fleming’s 2004 recording Voice of Hope in December 2014 under the title Tommy Fleming Musical Extravaganza. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan found that the unauthorised broadcasts had caused damage and loss, including a serious setback to Fleming’s career.

The judge found the Flemings were entitled to €100,000 for infringement of their intellectual property rights. He awarded TF Productions a further €50,000 as a contribution towards the money it spent minimising its losses, and awarded the plaintiffs their legal costs.

Irish TV, which was in liquidation, did not contest the application. Before its liquidation, the station had said in correspondence that it believed it had permission to broadcast the show. Fleming told the court that the station never had his permission.