Advanced Television

Policy

Cablevision infringed Verizon patent, trade agency says

A US trade agency said it will let stand a judge’s finding that Cablevision Systems infringed a patent owned by Verizon Communications and will consider banning imports of set-top boxes used by Cablevision. Verizon filed the patent-infringement complaint last year at the US International Trade Commission, seeking an order that would block imports of set-top […]

July 22, 2011

Euro judges to rule on TVCatchup.com

The UK High Court is to ask the European Court of Justice (ECJ) if streaming live TV programmes over the Internet is an act subject to copyright laws after provisionally ruling that it is. Mr Justice Floyd said that TVCatchup did communicate to the public when it streamed programmes broadcast by ITV, Channel 4 and […]

July 21, 2011

PM refuses to deny discussing BSkyB bid with News International

Following the appearance before parliamentary committees of senior police officers and News Corporation staff, it was the turn of Prime Minister David Cameron to come under the scrutiny of the full House of Commons following a statement on the phone hacking scandal. In doing so, he refused to deny that he discussed the BSkyB bid […]

July 20, 2011

Belgian MSOs challenge cable regulations

Belgian cable operators Telenet and are to appeal the decision by regulator group CRC to regulate the country’s broadcast market. The CRC, which includes regulators the VRM, BIPT, CSA and Medienrat, has submitted that the Belgian analogue and digital TV and broadband Internet markets must make access available to competitors on a wholesale basis. The […]

July 19, 2011

Rovi loses Ziggo patent case

Dutch cable operator Ziggo has emerged victorious from its lawsuit against Rovi according to the IE Forum – a platform for lawyers in intellectual property protection. Rovi had accused Ziggo of violating its patent for an electronic programme guide. Ziggo claimed the Rovi patent was not valid and won support from the judge, who rejected […]

July 18, 2011

DCMS consults on local TV

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published a consultation on its plans to introduce local TV services. The framework document outlines the steps the government intends to take by using available secondary order making powers and the funding of up to £40 million secured through the licence fee settlement with the BBC to […]

July 18, 2011

Egypt bans Libyan channels

An Egyptian Court has formally ordered satellite operator Nilesat to remove 14 Libyan state-backed channels from transmission. MENA, Egypt’s official news agency, reports that the orders came from Cairo’s Administrative Court. Lawsuits issued by Libyan nationals, as well as Egyptian lawyers, and presented to the court state that the channels are being used by President […]

July 11, 2011By Chris Forrester

Minister: ISPs are obstructive. Virgin: this isn’t the only way

Ed Vaizey, the UK Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, has criticised the continued legal action by ISPs BT and TalkTalk in respect of implementing aspects of the Digital Economy Act. Vaizey, in a keynote speech at the Intellect Consumer Electronics Conference in London, noted that in cross-industry discussions his department had facilitated […]

July 5, 2011By Colin Mann

Samsung seeks ban on Apple products in US

Samsung Electronics has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to ban the sale of key Apple products in the US. Samsung wants to stop iPhone, iPad and iPod models being imported and sold in the US. The two companies have been involved in a legal tussle, accusing each other of […]

June 30, 2011

Local TV Alliance urges Action Plan rethink

A number of leading advocates of local TV in the UK have formed the Local TV Alliance and have written to the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt reiterating their support for his original vision and urging him not to be deterred by vested interests. The initial members of the Alliance include Channel 6, Local 6 […]

June 29, 2011By Colin Mann