Aereo case highlights importance of copyright protection

The copyright case involving streaming television services company Aereo was recently discussed on this blog. The company was found by the Supreme Court to have been in violation of copyrights of television broadcasters. Aereo's service provided streaming television by using an antenna to to record broadcast television programming.

Following the ruling, Aereo had to suspend operations and attempted to have itself classified as a cable system in an effort to gain a license that would allow them to continue their streaming television service. However, this request is being weighed by the U.S. Copyright Office.

According to a Bloomberg Businessweek article, the U.S. Copyright Office did not reject the request, but accepted it provisionally, and the final decision will be made after it is reviewed by regulators and courts. 

Before sinking significant resources into a venture, businesses should be certain that the service they are providing is legal and not in violation of copyright laws. In the event that an act of infringement is committed, you may have to develop a new business strategy. An attorney can serve as a trusted resource during this process. 

It is also critical to take steps to obtain the legal protections that will ensure a company is able to defend its intellectual property in the event that another party attempts to infringe upon it. Without the correct legal protections, your idea could be left unprotected from infringement. 

Whether it's a creative work or a unique technological invention, every business needs to protect its assets. Businesses in the Phoenix, AZ area can contact a small business attorney to learn more about how copyright affects their business. 

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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