More broadcasters sue Aereo for copyright infringement

Back in August, this blog discussed how some major broadcasters are filing lawsuits against online video companies that stream their content over the web to smartphone and tablet users. One of those companies, Aereo, receives broadcast television signals and stores shows in the cloud for users to watch at their leisure. As a result, Aereo has been a prime target in this legal action.

According to a report by The Verge, Fox, CBS and a number of local television affiliates are accusing Aereo of intellectual property infringement in a Utah district court. They argue that the company should not be able to rebroadcast their content without paying a fee.

"No amount of technological gimmickry by Aereo changes the fundamental principle of copyright law that those who wish to retransmit copyrighted broadcasts may do so only with the copyright owners' authority," the broadcasters wrote in a statement.

It may prove to be an uphill battle. Back in April, Aereo won a similar case in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The court determined that since users of the service were only streaming content to themselves, the system did not infringe on a broadcaster's copyright.

Still, broadcasters are taking a hard line. The Verge reports that both CBS and News Corp. have  suggested stopping broadcast television altogether if this practice does not end. Meanwhile, the challengers in Utah are hoping that their case goes all the way to the Supreme Court to finally settle the issue.

This will not resolve itself any time soon. Aereo is one such company that could benefit from the services of a Phoenix business attorney who specializes in business law and intellectual property.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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