Britannia Hotels reaches out of court settlement over TV copyright infringement

Britannia Hotels has agreed an out of court settlement with the Audiovisual Licensing Alliance (AVLA) for showing television channels without the correct licence.

The terms of the copyright infringement settlement means Britannia Hotels must now obtain an AVLA Licence for its 64 UK hotels.

AVLA, the UK’s non-profit broadcast licensing body, brought proceedings against Britannia in Edinburgh’s supreme civil court, the Court of Session, under section 20 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Under the terms of the act, a work cannot be communicated to the public, including broadcast on TV, online or other forms of electronic transmission, without the copyright owner’s authorisation.

Max Rumney, co-chair of AVLA, said: “Respecting copyright laws is crucial not only to avoid legal or reputational risks, but also to support creators. As a not-for-profit organisation, AVLA distributes the vast majority of licence fees directly to the rightsholders we represent. In an industry that normally operates on a project-driven basis, this contribution is key to ensure that the talent required for ground-breaking British content remains and continues to be significant contributors to the UK economy.

“Hotels that prioritise compliance demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices and respect for intellectual property rights. We encourage businesses that have yet to obtain an AVLA licence to contact our team and regularise their position to avoid legal risks and higher costs.”

Hotels, aparthotels, serviced apartments, B&Bs and similar venues are legally required to obtain an AVLA licence if they provide guests with access to TV channels featuring audiovisual content from AVLA’s repertoire.

This applies both to televisions in bedrooms and in communal areas, such as restaurants or bars. Operating without the licence constitutes a legal infringement of the AVLA-associated creators’ rights.

AVLA manages a repertoire that spans films, series, documentaries, cartoons and other shows regularly broadcast on major national television channels and beyond.

Britannia Hotels has been contacted for comment.

The group’s UK hotels include Blackpool’s Metropole hotel, the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool and the Hampstead Britannia hotel (pictured) in London.

Its Britannia International hotel in Canary Wharf in east London was recently the scene of protests over plans to house asylum seekers in the building.

Elsewhere, Brighton and Hove City Council is still trying to recover £1.2m is it owed from Britannia Hotels, nearly two years after a 2023 fire at the group’s Royal Albion hotel.

Britannia Hotels saw pre-tax profits drop to £31m in the year ended 31 March 2024, down from £39m the previous year.