TV Networks Ask Supreme Court to Shut Down Aereo
By LESLIE KAUFMAN FEB. 24, 2014
nytimes.com
Aereo, the start-up that uses tiny antennas to stream the free signals of TV stations to its customers’ Internet-connected devices for a fee, is stealing from the broadcast networks on a giant scale, the broadcasters asserted in a filing with the Supreme Court on Monday. “The Copyright Act does not tolerate business models premised on the unauthorized exploitation of the copyrighted works of others,” said the brief, which was filed by broadcasters including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
On April 22, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear American Broadcasting Companies v. Aereo, a case that has significant implications for a television industry undergoing profound changes, as well as challenges from upstart competitors like Netflix and Amazon.
Among the broadcasters most substantial threats is Aereo, a two-year-old company that operates in 13 cities and continues to grow. On Monday, it announced plans to offer its service in Austin, Tex., starting next week.
The company argues that it does not have to pay to retransmit the broadcasters’ programming because it temporarily assigns each viewer an antenna at its storage facility. That means instead of copying the material outright, it allows individuals to copy on their own.
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