For now, the site's
activities are suspended due to the notice below. After 14 years, it saddens
me that a site that asks for and receives no money from users, regularly
declines offers of advertising to keep the service clean, makes no claims to
have "invented" the fixtures, denies no other party any revenue and provides
a unique service can be pursued under a dubious point of law that has been
perverted from its original intention by an insane level of corporate greed
let loose on ordinary fans.
A site like this simply cannot afford the
required £4000 per season. I do wish the media would be brave enough to
refuse to license themselves and never carry fixtures - what would happen to
attendances then?
In the meantime, I need to take stock and
determine the future of the site. One possible scenario is to embark on a
redesign of the sheets so matches can be called up without needing to
reference the date. I'll only pursue this if the sheets remain user-friendly
to update. In the meantime, thank you to everyone for all the emails - I've
felt moved by the level of support received. Watch this space.
Michael.
From: "Jack Newton" <JackN@nr-online.com>
To: "spreadsheets@actrix.co.nz" <spreadsheets@actrix.co.nz>
NetResult Internal Reference: DataCo_NRID 198566
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 the Fixture Lists for this season August 2011 - May 2012 ("the
Fixture Lists"), for use by third parties.
We have noticed that your website http://www.michaelwray.co.nz/index.html is
displaying Football Fixtures in downloadable spreadsheets. In order to
display the Fixture Lists you must obtain the necessary licence from the
Press Association.
The Leagues have appointed the Press Association as their official agent for
the licensing and distribution of the Fixtures List. If you have
inadvertently infringed our clients' copyright please take immediate steps
to contact the Press Association (Email: fixtures@pressassociation.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 Solutions Limited
PO BOX 68506
London
SW15 9DT
United Kingdom
