MONROVIA- Yesterday it was a scene of drama at the offices othree of Liberia’s cables TV providers, when a writ from the Commercial Court of Montserrado ordered the closure of the three firms. The closure of the three cables providers came based on a lawsuit filed by the Consolidated Group, Inc. represented by and through its CEO, Mr. Simeon Freeman.

Consolidated Group Inc., which is the DSTV provider of subscriber management service in Liberia, had complained that the three cable providers are infringing on its intellectual property rights by illegally distributing to their respective customers certain television contents.

The court then ordered its sheriff to shut down the three companies on Tuesday.

Stated the writ: “You are hereby commended to attach and take possession of all identifiable properties and or asserts, including monies, equipment, vehicles and real property (leasehold rights), of the NANASAT, Digital Television Communication by and through its CEO, Board of Directors, Corporate Officers and all managers in the employ of the said entity, 1^st Defendant and SATCON Communication Services (SATCON) by and through its Board of Directors, CEO and other Corporate Executive Officers of said entity of the City of Monrovia, Liberia, 2^nd respondent and K3 Telecommunication by and through its Boards of Directors, CEO and other Corporate Executive Officers of said entity of the City of Monrovia, Liberia, 3^rd Defendant and Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), 4^th Defendant in the above entitled cause of action in the amount of US$2,625,971.98 to recover the principal and costs in these proceedings and you will return this writ of attachment to my office on or before the 14^thday of November, AD 2019 with your official returns endorsed on the back hereof as to the manner and form of service.” 

Consolidated Group in its lawsuit said it will indemnify the accused companies in the amount of US$4 Million from all damages and costs which they may incur as a consequence of the suit if the plaintiff fails to prosecute the case successfully.

Excerpt from the attachment reads: “The said plaintiff /principal will appear before this Honorable Court or any other to which this case may be removed and to indemnify the said defendants named herein, in the sum of Four Million United States Dollars (US$4,000,000,000) if the said defendants prevail in the final determination on the main suit.”

For the past years Consolidated Group has been complaining that the three television cable companies were allegedly “stealing contents” that they have no copyright to broadcast.

Courtesy of frontpage Africa