A Rome administrative court has ruled that Italian public broadcaster RAI is violating its public service charter by encrypting its free-to-air TV channels so as to deny Sky Italia the ability to carry the RAI channels on its DTH platform. Specifically, Sky Italia had filed a suit with an Italian regional administrative court challenging a […]
The European Commission has proposed measures to modernise collecting societies and put in place incentives to promote their transparency and efficiency. Although noting that digital technologies open up opportunities for creators of works, the EC acknowledges that collecting societies struggle to adapt to the requirements of the management of rights for online use of musical […]
Aereo, the start-up that takes live TV programming and sends it to mobile devices in New York, can continue with its service, despite objections from major broadcasters who argue that expansion can threaten the free broadcasting of events such as the Super Bowl, a judge ruled Wednesday. US District Judge Alison Nathan said she understood […]
UK Communication Minister Ed Vaizey has confirmed the terms of the £180 million scheme to help householders prevent 4G services interfering with television signals. The scheme was originally announced in February 2012. In a letter to UK comms regulator Ofcom – which ran a consultation on the issues for digital TV raised by the launch […]
Dish Network has lost its bid to handle the legal dispute over its ad-skipping technology, branded “Auto Hop,” in New York. A federal judge has ruled instead that the broadcasters suing Dish – CBS, NBC and Fox – can pursue their claims in Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted a motion by […]
Chinese Internet and broadcasting authorities have ordered intensified efforts to regulate online video content. The State Internet Information Office and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) have this week jointly issued a circular asking online video content providers to closely examine their videos before making them available for viewing. According to the […]
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed that it is delaying a proposed rule regarding energy conservation for set-top boxes to allow industry representatives and energy efficiency advocates time to negotiate a non-regulatory agreement. The DOE is initiating a rulemaking and data collection process to develop a potential test procedure and energy conservation standard […]
Telecoms regulator Ofcom may force BT to cut the price of Internet access outside London. In an effort to curb the cost of leasing capacity on BT’s networks, the regulator outlined proposed price caps. It said these would lead to “real-terms price reductions” for internet service providers and other firms. Ofcom proposed that over the […]
Virgin Media has attacked a decision by the UK Competition Commission to drop plans to curb BSkyB’s control of pay-TV film rights. In a submission to the Commission, Virgin described the decision as “irrational, unsound and highly speculative” and of failing to take relevant facts into account. In August 2010, the Commission originally concluded that […]
The European Parliament has voted to reject the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta). The proposed agreement sought to curb piracy, but Internet campaigners said it posed a threat to online freedoms. The rejection vote followed a failed attempt to postpone the decision because of ongoing investigations into Acta by the European Court of Justice. Twenty two […]