Aereo Attracts Support From Dish Network, EFF & More For SCOTUS Hearing

[dfergie]

DEVELOPING:With less than three weeks before Aereo argues its case in front of the Supreme Court, amicus briefs today supporting the subscription streaming service in its battle against the broadcasters were being filed fast and furiously. Supporters of the Barry Diller-backed company have until 11:59 PM ET to add their voice.
Today’s briefs from Dish Network, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Cable Association and more come less than a week after Aereo firmly responded to the broadcaster’s February 24 brief and the same day Diller said that Aereo could be “finished” if it loses before the SCOTUS.

deadine.com

 

[dfergie]

Aereo Gets Support from Cable Operators, Law Professors, Tech Industry

And yet more amicus briefs are coming in from the likes of Consumer Electronics Association, whose members include Amazon.com, Apple Inc., Google and Microsoft Corporation. These companies are concerned that an adverse ruling for Aereo could threaten novel technologies and are cautioning the Supreme Court to be mindful of the fact that the TV industry not always knows what is best for them.

hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Tampa8]

Not suprised that DISH responded, hope Direct TV will too. That list has quite a few heavy hitters. Seems the Networks/Affiliates have made a few enemies.

 

[Teehar]

I'm glad they have some solid supporters.This is a huge case.If aereo loses,we all lose imho.

 

[GaryPen]

Amicus Briefs was the Gregory Peck character in To Kill a Mockingbird, right?

 

[Tampa8]

I think you're mistaken, it was Nolo Contendere.

 

[GaryPen]

I think you're mistaken, it was Nolo Contendere.

He was the secret agent on Man From Uncle.

 

[DishSubLA]

IF I understand how Aero works, the fee is for the DVR service, NOT the OTA stream. However, there is no OTA stream without DVR service offered. Is that correct? I think that will be the sticking point. Either the court will be "activist" (I use that term as a joke to those who really believe in "activist courts"--such as the Supreme Court's recent rulings--or that it is really that injurious) and offer that Aero needs to offer a FREE OTA stream service as well as a paid DVR service, or the court could just rule it as a violation of copyright and the broadcasters win.

If Aero does offer a FREE OTA stream only, then it is BULLETPROOF, as the service with antenna and closed stream to household does NOT constitute a "public performance."

 

[Peter Parker]

The fee is for a service that includes OTA reception and DVR service.

 

[LASooner]

NAB should be a tension filled joy fest this year.

 

[PortlandChris]

You lease an antenna and a storage cloud. There is a single dedicated antenna to me (and everyone else in the same location). Then we use data transmission methods to transmit it to my TV. The storage is a cloud off site, its the equivilant of a DVD, VHS tape, etc.

How is this different if I lease a house with an antenna on it?

IF I understand how Aero works, the fee is for the DVR service, NOT the OTA stream. However, there is no OTA stream without DVR service offered. Is that correct? I think that will be the sticking point. Either the court will be "activist" (I use that term as a joke to those who really believe in "activist courts"--such as the Supreme Court's recent rulings--or that it is really that injurious) and offer that Aero needs to offer a FREE OTA stream service as well as a paid DVR service, or the court could just rule it as a violation of copyright and the broadcasters win.

If Aero does offer a FREE OTA stream only, then it is BULLETPROOF, as the service with antenna and closed stream to household does NOT constitute a "public performance."

 

[Yespage]

You lease an antenna and a storage cloud. There is a single dedicated antenna to me (and everyone else in the same location). Then we use data transmission methods to transmit it to my TV. The storage is a cloud off site, its the equivilant of a DVD, VHS tape, etc.

How is this different if I lease a house with an antenna on it?

You are leasing a house with an antenna, not paying someone else to rebroadcast a channel without the rights.

 

[Tampa8]

Leasing the house is not a good analogy. By the fact you do lease, you are legally receiving signals at your residence. Does not matter if you lease, rent, or own. So if you then sling the programming you are doing what anyone does from the residence. BTW - this is very likely a reason why Sling has never endorsed and has closed down threads about sharing a Slingbox.
And while two people watching remotely at the same time would strain the bandwidth, it is probably also a reason only one can be signed in at a time.

 

[TNGTony]

You are leasing a house with an antenna, not paying someone else to rebroadcast a channel without the rights.

Several scenarios, you tell me where it becomes a problem.

1) I lease a house, put up an antenna, TiVo and a sling box. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. I go back to the house every so often to maintain equipment. Is this okay?

2) I rent an apartment, put up rabbit ears, TiVo and a sling box. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. I have the apartment complex manager who is my friend maintain the equipment for me. Is this okay?

3) I rent a storage unit. I put up my antenna, TiVo and Sling using wireless tech. I have the storage unit people maintain the equipment. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

4) I rent a storage unit. I have a friend who lives in that city put up an antenna, Tivo and sling that uses wireless tech. he maintains it for me for a fee. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere i want. Is this okay?

5) I rent a space large enough for an antenna. I hire someone to put up an antenna, Tivo, Sling and maintain it. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

6) I contact a company that will rent me a space, put up an antenna, and the equivalent of a TiVo and Sling. They maintain it for as long as I pay them a fee. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

If any of these are NOT okay, I'd like to know conceptually what the difference is.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Tony the problem with your scenarios is that you are saying you can watch the channels anywhere. With Aereo this is not the case. You can only watch from within the dma. If you try logging in from outside the dma you are blocked.

I fully support Aereo.


Posted Via The FREE SatelliteGuys Reader App!

 

[TNGTony]

Thanks, Scott. Then I see even LESS of an issue with Aereo than I did before, if that's possible.

 

[Yespage]

Several scenarios, you tell me where it becomes a problem.

1) I lease a house, put up an antenna, TiVo and a sling box. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. I go back to the house every so often to maintain equipment. Is this okay?

2) I rent an apartment, put up rabbit ears, TiVo and a sling box. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. I have the apartment complex manager who is my friend maintain the equipment for me. Is this okay?

3) I rent a storage unit. I put up my antenna, TiVo and Sling using wireless tech. I have the storage unit people maintain the equipment. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

4) I rent a storage unit. I have a friend who lives in that city put up an antenna, Tivo and sling that uses wireless tech. he maintains it for me for a fee. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere i want. Is this okay?

5) I rent a space large enough for an antenna. I hire someone to put up an antenna, Tivo, Sling and maintain it. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

6) I contact a company that will rent me a space, put up an antenna, and the equivalent of a TiVo and Sling. They maintain it for as long as I pay them a fee. I can watch channels from that antenna anywhere I want. Is this okay?

If any of these are NOT okay, I'd like to know conceptually what the difference is.

Oi! Lets ignore hypotheticals and deal with the reality. With Aereo, aren't you are paying for them to distribute a channel they don't have the rights to distribute.

 

[TNGTony]

Oi! Lets ignore hypotheticals and deal with the reality. With Aereo, aren't you are paying for them to distribute a channel they don't have the rights to distribute.

With Aereo you are paying for someone to put up an antenna for you, to maintain that antenna. To give you the equivalent of a TiVo and Sling. So, no, I wont dispense with the hypotheticals because they are all apt.

 

[RONZ]

Tony the problem with your scenarios is that you are saying you can watch the channels anywhere. With Aereo this is not the case. You can only watch from within the dma. If you try logging in from outside the dma you are blocked. I fully support Aereo. Posted Via The FREE SatelliteGuys Reader App!

How do they control this being on the internet. I had asked them this question and they totally agreed that the signal is only available if you are in the DMA

 

[Yespage]

With Aereo you are paying for someone to put up an antenna for you *wink*, to maintain that antenna *wink*. To give you the equivalent of a TiVo and Sling *wink*. So, no, I wont dispense with the hypotheticals because they are all apt.

They are charging a person to rebroadcast material they don't have the rights to.