HIGH COURT RULE AGAINST HILLS The British Horseracing Board today won its High Court challenge against William Hill over the use of pre-race data. The BHB, along with the Jockey Club and Weatherbys, were using the action as an important test case over whether internet bookmakers could use information such as runners and riders without payment of a copyright fee. Payment for the rights over such information is seen by the BHB as a vital part of an alternative funding plan to the levy. William Hill, who denied any breach of the BHB`s rights, are considering an appeal. 'We are naturally disappointed at the decision and will now consider the judgement in detail before deciding whether to appeal,' said David Hood, spokesman for the company. 'In the meantime it is business as usual, as we took the precaution of taking a licence on the best terms we could get, so we will continue to feature British horseracing on both our UK and international internet sites. 'We have also madea formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading on the grounds that the terms of the said licence represent an abuse of the BHB`s monopoly position in the supply of information.'
