Two groups of broadcasters filed two separate federal lawsuits against Aereo in the Southern District of New York claiming that Aereo will infringe their copyrights.
The broadcasters claim Aereo is infringing their copyrights by making available technology which enables consumers to access broadcast television via a remote antenna and PVR.
Both lawsuits ask the court for an injunction to block the service, which is due to start on March 14, as well as damages and court costs.
Aereo is confident that the two cases have no merit “Aereo does not believe that the broadcasters’ position has any merit and it very much looks forward to a full and fair airing of the issues,” according to the start-up’s blog.
“Consumers are legally entitled to access broadcast television via an antenna and they are entitled to record television content for their personal use. Innovations in technology over time, from digital signals to Digital Video Recorders (“DVRs”), have made access to television easier and better for consumers.
“Aereo provides technology that enables consumers to use their cloud DVR and their remote antenna to record and watch the broadcast television signal to which they are entitled anywhere they are, whether on a phone, a tablet, a television or a laptop. Aereo very much looks forward to its upcoming product launch as well as a prompt resolution of these cases.”
The National Associations of Broadcasters issued this statement from executive VP of communications Dennis Wharton: “NAB strongly supports today’s legal action against Aereo. Copyright and TV signal protections promote a robust local broadcasting system that serves tens of millions of Americans every day with high quality news, entertainment, sports and emergency weather information. A plaintiffs’ win in this case will ensure the continued availability of this programming to the viewing public.”
One of the complaints can be downloaded here from the NAB website.
The fledgling Aereo service aims to provide multiscreen access and PVR functionality for viewers in the New York area. In order to achieve these features, Aereo has installed an array of miniature antennas, which pick up the free-to-air signals from all local broadcasters. When people subscribe they each get a single antenna dedicated to them plus a remote PVR attached to it. Via their broadband connection, they will be able to access antenna and PVR. (See Broadband TV News passim for the full story)
