Message-ID:  

Federal Court Issues Injunction to Prevent Canadian Bars from
Illegally Showing World Wrestling Entertainment --TM-- Pay-Per-Views

TORONTO, Jan 13, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) --  Bars involved in Case Also
Required to Pay WWE(TM) Treble Monetary Damages and Court Costs

The Federal Court of Canada has issued an injunction that will
prohibit bars in Canada from illegally showing pay-per-view events
offered by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., the company said
today.

In a case against 37 bars across Canada, Mr. Justice Beaudry issued an
injunction on January 6, 2004, against the bars from continuing their
illegal use of WWE pay-per-views. He also ruled that each bar must pay
WWE treble monetary damages plus court costs of CAD $1,500. A hearing
to determine damages will be held in the next few weeks which award
could be in excess of CAD $1 million dollars.

Carl DeMarco, President of WWE Canada, said that the bars in question
had each shown pay-per-views illegally. Efforts by WWE to get bars in
Canada to pay for the events and cease showing them illegally failed,
forcing WWE to take the case to court seeking monetary and injunctive
relief. DeMarco said it is easy for a bar or other commercial
establishment to obtain a license to show WWE pay-per-views legally,
and he encouraged all bars in Canada interested in showing WWE
pay-per-views to enter into a legal agreement to do so. "WWE likes to
be a good business partner, and we welcome the opportunity to work
with bars or other commercial establishments in Canada to license our
pay-per-views," DeMarco said.

The case is part of WWE's global efforts to crack down on the illegal
use of its programs, products and intellectual property, said Ed
Kaufman, Executive Vice President and General Counsel. "We are very
serious in our efforts to protect WWE's intellectual property assets
as well as the interests of those who choose to engage in business
with us and legally obtain rights or licenses to the world recognized
WWE brand," Kaufman said. "We are gratified that our efforts in Canada
will put an end to this type of piracy and intend to take similar
action whenever and wherever we find people engaging in illegal
activities to steal or counterfeit any WWE intellectual property."

Kaufman and DeMarco credited K. William McKenzie of Crawford,
McKenzie, McLean, Wilford, Anderson & Duncan of Orillia, Ont. and Ira
Berg, WWE Vice President of Legal Affairs, with successfully
litigating the case.


--- Internet Rex 2.29