This Day in History: 2022-12-06

Nr. 359

FOOTBALL LEAGUE WINS COPYRIGHT CASE (1959)

In 1959 the Football League won a landmark legal case in the High Court against pools company Littlewoods, claiming that copyright of the printed fixtures belonged to the clubs. The League were unhappy at how much money the pools companies were making from printing the fixtures each weekend and wanted to share in it.
After winning the case the League ploughed their new funds in to redeveloping many of their team’s stadiums. By 2004 it was estimated that pools revenue accounted for up to 20% of the Scottish League’s income.

Sir John Moores, founder of Littlewoods. The Moores family also have a long standing association with Liverpool football club.