RYANAIR HAS welcomed a High Court judgment that it has the right to bring proceedings in Ireland against websites that sell on its flights without its permission.
Ryanair says the so-called “screen-scraping” sites breach its website’s terms of use and the airline’s exclusive distribution policy.
It brought proceedings against German sites Billigfluege and Ticket Point in September 2009. Ryanair said the sites had refused to stop unauthorised screen-scraping and mis-selling of tickets from its website. The airline said this breached its terms and conditions.
Both Billigfluege and Ticket Point had argued Irish courts had no jurisdiction over these proceedings and said the case should have been brought in German courts.
Ryanair said the ruling meant it could expedite court proceedings in Ireland against so-called screen-scrapers, which it accuses of “mis-selling” tickets at higher prices.
Price comparison websites, it said, can enter a licence agreement with the airline to legally provide consumers with comparisons.
“We are now going to step up pressure on these ticket tout screen- scrapers, which we believe should be outlawed for good in the interests of consumers,” said Ryanair’s Juliusz Komorek.
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