Internet TV and radio streaming service Aereo has faced another setback in its fight against major US broadcasters after a judge ordered an injunction against it.
Aereo, which was deemed to be infringing copyright by the US Supreme Court earlier this year, had claimed it would be irreparably harmed by not being allowed to retransmit programmes, and had sought a licence similar to a cable operator’s.
Its claims were rejected following a ruling at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York yesterday (October 23).
The ruling marks another blow for the online service, which has faced a long battle with various broadcasters including Fox and ABC.
Rejecting the claims, Judge Alison Nathan said Aereo should be stopped from "streaming, transmitting, retransmitting, or otherwise publicly performing any copyrighted programme over the internet … while the copyrighted programming is still being broadcast".
Aereo, which ha suspended its services, captured TV shows belonging to broadcasters and retransmitted them over the internet, allowing subscribers to watch and record live programmes.
Customers paid between $8 and $12 a month for the service but Aereo did not pay licensing fees to the broadcasters.But, according to The Hollywood Reporter, by adding the clause, "while the copyrighted programming is still being broadcast", Nathan addressed the “sensitive issue” of whether Aereo could still operate by broadcasting time-shifted programming.
Following the ruling, an Aereo representative said the company was examining its options.
"We are reviewing the decision and evaluating our options,” Aereo spokeswoman Virginia Lam said in a statement.
Aereo, US, Fox, ABC, Copyright
