Article from Light Reading: HBO Exec: Sling Slags Copyrights

[spindoctor]

BAD NEWS APRIL 25, 2006

LAS VEGAS -- NAB 2006 -- Sling Media Inc. says its "place shifting" product is good for content owners and distributors, but at least one content owner -- Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX - message board) division HBO -- disagrees. (See Sling Media: We're Good for Cable.)

"Content owners don't like it [Sling] because they think it violates their copyrights," HBO CTO Bob Zitter said during a panel here Tuesday. Zitter's comment came in response to a question from the audience concerning how new technologies are changing the way content is distributed.

Sling Media's "SlingBox" grabs the TV signal at the home and slings it out over a broadband connection to a laptop, cell phone, or any other connected device. Where Tivo allows viewers to "time shift" their programming, Sling allows them to "place shift" it. (See LR Picks Best New Services.)

Sling Media CEO Blake Krikorian said during a Congressional hearing last month that his SlingBox device enables viewers to spend more time watching TV by expanding TV-watching opportunities far beyond the living room. That, he argues, should be a welcome technology for content owners and distributors.

After his keynote address here, HBO's Zitter wasn't eager to expand on his on-stage comments. He told Light Reading: "I'm not going to go any deeper into it than that. There are still a number of legal issues that need to be worked out."

Asked if legal proceedings were underway against Sling, Zitter said: "Not involving us, but from others." When asked if HBO was planning such legal actions, Zitter replied: "I don't think I want to say."

Sling said in an email Tuesday it had nothing to say about Zitter's comments. So maybe they are being sued.

Sling's defense on the subject of copyright violation is that its product neither records the video nor does it send it to more than one end point at a time.

But content owners like Warner Brothers are themselves very bullish on delivering their programs via broadband and over wireless connections. Nobody, in the U.S. at least, is making bank selling video this way, but if consumer trends in other parts of the world are any indicator, such service will soon catch on. If it does, Sling's product would be a direct competitive threat to content owners. Then, the legal departments of the content owners may have a real reason to take up the fight against Sling.

HBO's Zitter noted that Sling is not the only company doing time-shifting and place-shifting of video content.

Zitter says HBO has an exclusive mobile distribution deal with Cingular Wireless LLC and also distributes its content to cell phones in nine countries outside the U.S.

- Mark Sullivan, Shape-Shifting Reporter, Light Reading

 

[charper1]

The bottom line for these greedy bastards that constantly toss out the "copyright violation" shiznit, its that while they LOVE the concepts, THEY want to be the ones to control it, so they can charge more or a premium fee to do it. I am so sick of the whole copyright whine excuses; they are all pissed off they didn't think or get to market with the same idea 1st.

 

[spindoctor]

maybe cingular pressured them.

the minute a lawsuit becomes public i am canceling both of them

HBO AND CINGULAR

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I love my Sling, it allows me to watch the channels I PAY FOR where I want to watch them.

 

[hancox]

I don't think HBO has a chance here - as long as you're not making money from your Sling feed, this is fair use.

F U HBO! (Spawn of Cablevision - SHOCKER!)

 

[TheForce]

We will enjoy sling box as long as it lasts. They have lots of folks fighting them right now. I talked to one user at NAB who claims he already got a letter from verizon threatening to cancel his service as unlimited if he continues to use it for streaming media.

It is't that these antagonists don't like the technical achievements, Its just that they aren't able to collect revenues from the process.

If several congressmen and the RIAA and MPAA have their way with our lawmakers, we will be seeing DMCA II that will make it a Federal crime with jail sentences for using this technology, including any Fair Use copying. DMCA II is designed to eliminate Fair Use for individuals. If passed it will be just like anything else we do now that is made illegal. They seek to shut down all TIVO's DVR use and other copying and place shifting (sling Media) unless they can make you pay per view with it. It really sucks but that is what we get for continuing to elect a 2 party powerhouse in Washington.

 

[spindoctor]

unless SLINGMEDIA staff decides to send some SLINGBOXES over to the congressmen (remember what happened with ipod)

they need to watch FOX NEWS..................

but then of course everyone wants to get in on place shifting including CISCO

now that they have bought scientific atlanta.........

 

[Shredder]

If someting lke DMCA2 comes about, I'll stop buying DVD, going to the movies, and watching TV. It's just that simple folks. I'll stick with my video games and old media, and live a happy guy .

Someone reallly does need to start up a website that can voice this out to the public. , but I don't have the time to do it .