A Glasgow pub has been ordered to pay over £70,000 for illegally using Sky.

The Court of Session ruled that the Avalon Bar in Kent Road, Glasgow and its manager Sara McIntosh must pay £73,300 in fines, damages and legal costs for showing Sky Sports illegally.

A Court of Session ruling in February 2014 found the bar had breached Sky's copyright by showing Sky Sports at the venue without a commercial agreement. It also found the licensees to be in contempt of court for breaching an injunction obtained by Sky to prevent further infringements.

The fine is the largest award ever made against a pub in actions of this kind.

Alison Dolan, deputy managing director, Sky Business, said: "This landmark ruling demonstrates how seriously the courts treat copyright infringement and reiterates that Sky Sports can only be shown legally in pubs via a commercial agreement directly from Sky.

"Copyright infringement creates an uneven playing field for thousands of hardworking licensees who legitimately invest in Sky Sports, which is why we are committed to visiting thousands of pubs, as well as investigating suppliers, to protect our customers and ensure they are not left short-changed by illegal activity."

Colin Hulme, partner and head of intellectual property law firm Burness Paull's dispute resolution team, said: "The outcome of this case has set a precedent that will make others sit up and take note.

"It clearly demonstrates that venues which choose to show Sky Sports without a licence are committing copyright infringement and will face legal actions - and possibly hefty financial consequences as a result of their actions."

The Kent Road pub is now called 'Whiski Kraft'.