Broadcasters sue online video companies for copyright infringement

Many consumers watch more television on their smartphones and tablets than they do on actual computers. The problem—at least, in the eyes of broadcasters—is that they are doing so without permission.

Some viewers are tuning into programs streamed by companies like FilmOn X and Aereo, which allow subscribers to access on-air television on their mobile devices and record programs for later viewing.

Broadcasters are, understandably, unhappy about this. According to an article on Mediapost, major networks have filed lawsuits against FilmOn X and Aereo, alleging that the two companies are misusing unlicensed copyrighted material. To do so, the networks demand that the companies pay retransmission fees.

Meanwhile, FilmOn X and Aereo argue that they are engaging in the perfectly legal activity of watching television while it's on air—something any viewer can do on their own by installing an antenna. 

"FilmOn X's technology only enables transmission to individual users at their direction, which constitutes private (not public) performance," the company wrote in a recent paper. "Through FilmOn X's technology, a user may remotely record and privately view television programming the user indisputably has the right to record and view."

While Aereo recently beat back an injunction order in federal court, FilmOn X is still appealing to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The outcome of these cases may redefine how millions of viewers watch television. But, like all disputes that occur between entertainment companies, it is important for the party seeking to protect its intellectual property to work with a Phoenix business attorney.

Categorised in: Entertainment Law

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