UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom has hit another adult broadcaster with fines totalling £130,000 for breaches of its broadcasting code. In November Playboy TV was hit with fines totalling £110,000 for breaches of Ofcom’s ‘adult chat’ code. These latest penalties were levied on Satellite Entertainment Ltd (SEL), which telecasts Sport XXX Girls, Essex Babes and Northern […]
In a reversal of the current ‘beauty parade’ licensing plan, Italy has confirmed it will now auction off to the highest bidder its six remaining digital terrestrial frequencies – as first reported here on December 12th. Italy’s technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti has decided to support an opposition parliamentary move to hold an auction. The […]
BT is joining the list of those suing Google in the US, over claims that six of its patents have been infringed. The UK telco’s complaints centre on technologies at the core of Google’s Android mobile system, search engine, and a wide range of other services. BT is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction against […]
Mexico’s antitrust agency has started an investigation into agreements between phone carriers and TV programming providers, a sign that Grupo Televisa SAB’s bid to enter the wireless industry is facing more scrutiny. Deals between fixed-line phone, wireless, Internet, broadcast and pay-TV providers could represent prohibited concentrations of market power, the antitrust agency said in the […]
A coalition of nine of the largest Internet companies is backing the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act, the anti-piracy measure proposed last week by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif). “We write today to express our support for the legislation you are developing,” states an open letter to […]
Following the launch earlier in December of an ad campaign in support of support of the Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act from Creative America, the grass-roots coalition uniting those who value American creativity and innovation in the fight against content theft, a collection of technology industry luminaries is planning a campaign […]
MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd has reaffirmed the entertainment community’s commitment to both free speech and the fight against criminals who steal online content. In remarks to Washington, DC think-tank the Center for American Progress, Senator Dodd said that creative technology and creative content were “absolutely essential to each other” and that those […]
Verizon Communications has lost another judgement in US District Court in the ongoing patent infringement case that was brought against the company by ActiveVideo Networks. The court denied a motion by Verizon seeking to stay the monthly royalty payments imposed by a November 23rd court injunction, and directed Verizon to make the first monthly payment […]
According to the Ofcom’s Draft 2012/13 Annual Plan, next-generation mobile networks won’t be “widely available” for another three years at least. The 800MHz band required for 4G is currently being used for terrestrial TV broadcasts, but the digital switchover means it can now be assigned for mobile broadband use. These spectrums will be auctioned off […]
The war of words continues between the movie lobby and Internet interests over proposed anti-piracy legislation, with Michael O’Leary, Senior Executive Vice President for Global Policy and External Affairs at the Motion Picture Association of America rounding on Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt’s comments delivered at the Economic Club of Washington DC. “Today, Google Executive […]