THE SIDELINES : Tyson Pirates Nabbed by HBO
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NEW YORK — TV sleuths who were out looking for pirates during Mike Tyson’s latest heavyweight fight struck pay dirt.
Home Box Office said today that teams of undercover investigators visited bars and restaurants across the country Saturday night to check for unauthorized use of its cable telecast of the heavyweight double-header in Las Vegas featuring Tyson and George Foreman.
HBO said about 300 violators were found, about 40% of all places visited. The cities where the checks took place were Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, San Diego, Kansas City, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn.
“The establishments that have not heeded our warnings will now have to pay the penalty,” HBO Senior Vice President John Redpath said.
Lawsuits will be filed for copyright infringement and Communications Act violations, HBO attorney Louis DiBella said.
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