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SINGAPORE: The civil suit between RecordTV and MediaCorp drew to a close on Friday after a five-day hearing.
Among those on the stand was MediaCorp's senior vice-president for Network Programming and Promotions, Khiew Voon Kwang.
He told the court that the two "cease and desist" letters sent to RecordTV should not be viewed as threats as they "merely stated the consequences" of alleged copyright infringements.
Mr Khiew agreed with RecordTV lawyer Koh Chia Ling's suggestion that legal proceedings was one of the consequences.
RecordTV, which provides an online facility to record television broadcasts, had sued MediaCorp for making "groundless threats" of copyright infringements.
The two "cease and desist" letters were sent on July 24 and September 21, 2007, after consultations with MediaCorp's in-house counsel and external law firms.
The second letter gave RecordTV till September 28, 2007, to comply. But RecordTV "pre-emptively" commenced the current proceedings. MediaCorp responded by filing a counterclaim, alleging copyright infringements.
When asked by MediaCorp's lawyer how the alleged copyright infringements were committed, Mr Khiew said RecordTV made unauthorised copies of MediaCorp's free-to-air television broadcasts and films.
Two other witnesses were also called on Friday. MediaCorp News vice-president for corporate services Han Chuan Quee had submitted her affidavit of evidence on the subsistence and ownership of copyright for the company's films.
She was not cross-examined on the subsistence and ownership issues.
The other witness, private investigator Wilfred Nathan – who was hired by MediaCorp – testified on investigations conducted on RecordTV's website.
Mr Nathan's company had recorded six programmes in October 2007 using RecordTV's website.
Both sides will return to court on Monday as MediaCorp wants to amend its counterclaim.
This is after RecordTV's managing director Carlos Fernandes revealed for the first time during his testimony earlier this week that the company had made back-up copies of MediaCorp's television programmes.
Lawyers for both companies will then file written submissions, with the judge giving his judgement at a later date.
- CNA/so
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