The FCC has released another request for information for its national broadband plan, this one focused on how set-top boxes could help spur the viewing of video over the Internet. The commission pointed out that while only 76% of households have personal computers, 99% have TV sets. “The convergence of the television and content delivered […]
Rovi Corporation has condemned last week’s UK High Court ruling that three of its Gemstar EPG patents are invalid. The company promised to appeal the decision that said Virgin Media had not impinged patents with its own EPG. Samir Armaly, Rovi’s SVP of worldwide patent licensing said: "We..intend to continue to pursue Virgin and other […]
Virgin Media has emerged successful in the patent dispute lodged against it by Gemstar TV Guide. The London High Court rulings call into question the ability for intellectual property rights holder Rovi to enforce its patents both in the UK and with operators around the world. Gemstar, now part of Rovi, had claimed Virgin's EPG […]
Three people have been arrested in the north-eastern Athens suburb of Aghia Paraskevi on suspicion of breaking the encryption codes used by the Greek digital satellite pay-TV platform Nova and offering free viewing to tens of thousands of people around Greece. The three men are alleged to have sold to their clients, for a one-off […]
The European Commission would oppose the Spanish government if it cuts the Internet access of users that download copyrighted material, the European Commission’s top telecommunications policy-maker, Viviane Reding, has said. “If Spain cuts off Internet access without a procedure in front of a judge, it would certainly run into conflict with the European Commission,” Reding […]
The chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment has said the US should join France in cutting off the Internet connection of users who repeatedly download copyright-protected films. CEO Jim Gianopulos said Internet piracy is the single biggest threat to the film industry worldwide, and independent films are the hardest hit. He said Internet service providers […]
From Colin Mann in London Future assessment of the UK’s wireless spectrum should take into account whether optimum use is being made of broadcasting spectrum in an age of widespread broadband data, according to Ed Richards, CEO of Ofcom. “We need to continue to ensure that spectrum is put to good use for all our […]
The Government's introduction of the Digital Britain bill on Friday last week will “secure the UK's position as a world-leading digital economy”, say ministers. “We need to make sure copyright and the systems around it work in the digital era.” The Government was “likely to get this bill through” they say but others doubt it […]
Italy’s Mediaset has filed a complaint with antitrust officials against Sky Italia over its Digital Key that allows Sky Italia subscribers to view free DTT channels. The pay-TV market is dominated by Sky Italia on DTH but Mediaset has been trying to challenge Sky’s position with low-cost pay-TV on DTT. “The distribution by Sky of […]
Rural areas of the UK could gain access to broadband Internet services by using spare television spectrum after Ofcom gave the green light to the technology’s development. The communications regulator published a discussion paper on use of so-called 'white space' spectrum – the buffer radio spectrum between television channels, inviting the industry to push forward […]