Canal Plus continues fight

Earlier this month, the Hungarian Highest Court of Appeals nullified a December Budapest City Court verdict that dismissed Paris-based Canal+'s claim that CEU is operating illegally when beaming pay-TV channel HBO Polska's to Poland from Hungary. The Highest Court said the earlier procedure was fraught with technical errors.
"The process is now starting all over again from the beginning," said Paulina Krasinska, a Canal+ Polska spokeswoman. "This is a step toward clear competition rules. We want HBO to have the same rights and responsibilities on the Polish market as Canal+ does."
Canal + Polska sued rival pay-TV provider HBO Polska in October 1997, claiming HBO's Polish operation is illegal because it acts as a broadcaster but lacks the license to do so. Canal+ brought the issue to Hungary in May, suing CEU for damages, but lost its claim in the first round.
"One thing I want to be clear about is that these were strictly technical mistakes that the Highest Court criticized and have nothing to do with the content of the lawsuit," said George Douglas, managing director of CEU. "The verdict is favorable to Canal+ to the extent that they didn't lose again."
CEU, which beams HBO's program to Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic from Budapest, received a 10-year license from the Hungarian Telecommunications Supervision (HIF) last April to continue its transmission from Budapest.