Supercrosslive.com’s Cycling Link to SFX Bites the Dust

You won’t be downloading supercross racing events live from supercrosslive.com any time soon.

A federal court in Dallas has enjoined the website from providing an audio webcast link to motorcycle racing events sponsored by Live Nation Motor Sports, Inc., formerly known as SFX Motor Sports, Inc. The court found that the link violates the U.S. Copyright Act. SFX alleged that supercrosslive.com infringed on its copyright by streaming the live webcasts of SFX’s motorcycle racing events without permission and asked the court to enjoin supercross from linking to the SFX webcasts.

“The live broadcasts of the racing events, either via television, radio or internet webcasts, constitute original audiovisual material that can be copyrighted under the Copyright Act,” the court wrote. As the producer of the racing shows, SFX qualifies as the author or owner of the copyrightable work, the court found.

The court found that the unauthorized “link” to the SFX webcast would likely qualify as a copied display or performance of SFX’s copyrightable material. As a result, the court said it was proper to enjoin supercrosslive.com from continuing to link to the SFX material. The court found there was no “fair use” by supercrosslive.com of the webcast that would exempt it from copyright infringement.

Live Nation Motor Sports, Inc. v. Robert Davis dba Triple Clamps, N. Dist. Tex., Dallas Div., No. 06 CV 276 L, issued December 12, 2006.