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Legality of subscribing to Sky TV in Germany
It's a grey area, but many get away with it
Can anyone tell me if having Sky TV in Germany is legal. Or do you need to have a UK address for Sky updates/ new cards etc
Have you tried typing Sky into the search box, there are loads of responses... I thought it was just me who didn't use the function!
Aha Ok thanks. My excuse is that I am new to this site.
To be fair, a quick search of this site doesn't throw up a succinct answer to this question (Search: legality of sky). So, for the benefit of future searchers, here's the answer:
QUOTE (Owain Glyndwr @ Mar 31 2006, 12:11 pm) 
The use of the word "illegal" is inappropriate.
There is no law banning the reception of Sky or the use of Sky equipment in Germany. Therefore it is not illegal.
The use of a Sky card outside the UK and Ireland is, however, a breach of the Terms and Conditions of the Sky contract. By using them here you are simply in breach of a civil contract and nothing more.
There is no law banning the reception of Sky or the use of Sky equipment in Germany. Therefore it is not illegal.
The use of a Sky card outside the UK and Ireland is, however, a breach of the Terms and Conditions of the Sky contract. By using them here you are simply in breach of a civil contract and nothing more.
I suspect he's not asking the question correctly. What (I think) he means is "Can I subscribe directly to Sky from Germany" to which the answer is "No, as Sky is only available to private addresses in UK, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic". If, however the question were "Can I receive Sky in Germany" then the answer is "Yes, but you need to arrange a Sky subscription via a UK address or through a grey market supplier, which is not strictly allowed in Sky's terms and conditions, but many (hundreds of) thousands of people do it, and hope they don't get caught"
So on this gripping topic. In the UK you must have a TV licence if you have a TV to pay for the BBC and I would guess it is "illegal" under UK law not to have this, rather than being a contract that is being broken.
So if you watch the BBC over here - is that illegal?
Also of course there is maybe the issue of how you watch the BBC. You could argue that by watching over SKY, you have only broken your SKY contract, and that they have broken THEIR contract with the BBC. But I think in that case you are only using SKY as a tool to conduct your own wicked lawbreaking. Plus of course you can view the BBC via other satellites.
So if you watch the BBC over here - is that illegal?
Also of course there is maybe the issue of how you watch the BBC. You could argue that by watching over SKY, you have only broken your SKY contract, and that they have broken THEIR contract with the BBC. But I think in that case you are only using SKY as a tool to conduct your own wicked lawbreaking. Plus of course you can view the BBC via other satellites.
UK law does not extend to Germany. You are only bound by German laws here. Besides, the licence is for the TV set, not the right to watch the BBC.
BBC and ITV are completely free to air and are not tied to Sky,, apart from the use of the SKY EPG software..
As long as you have the right dish, Receiver etc, then you can watch it... Its like saying is German TV illegal in the UK?
G
As long as you have the right dish, Receiver etc, then you can watch it... Its like saying is German TV illegal in the UK?
G
OK think I have my answer:
http://www.kevinboone.com/tv_licence.html
http://www.kevinboone.com/tv_licence.html
QUOTE
All the types of service defined in s.2(4) of the 1990 Act, digital or otherwise, are limited to those broadcast from the UK (not to the UK), or from places in UK jurisdiction. It seems fairly clear that you don't need a licence to receive programs from outside UK jurisdiction, however they are received.
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