Laws on web broadcasting?

Streaming Concercens

Updated May 1, 2012

Web broadcasting and web streaming are new technologies allowing for you to gain access to your favorite TV shows from you computer, internet TV, and mobile phones. I have spoken recently in my blog about all the perks that come along with using these devices. It gives you the opportunity to take entertainment outside of your home.

In recent news a new company called Aereo says they have made an antenna small enough to be placed on your finger. Allowing you to get channels on the go, in your home, and even record it to a DVR. Aereo says the antenna can be placed on a tiny interface on any device you want, without cable cords or cable boxes. Sounds like the perfect package for only 12 dollar a month after a free trial right?

Wait on second! Just after two weeks after its launch. Two federal lawsuits were filed on Aereo for violating copyright laws and seeking to shut it down before any profit is given to the company this according to wired

Dont worry yet.

Now do not worry not all of your favorite sites like Netflix are closing down. The copyright above has to deal with the way the shows are being transmitted to their user’s devices. The antenna or tiny antennas pictured left is suppose to let Aereo to retransmit their over the air broadcast. This is where organizations like FOX and ABC find they are violating the copyright law.

Should this be something we should worry about? I think looking at the way that Aereo is using the antennas to provided channels for users is convenient. The down side we would have to look at is losing major cable providers. Broadcastenergering noted

“the service can potentially erode high-level contracts that major networks have with cable operators, since it’s unlikely the channels are seeing much profit from the creative repurposing of content that Aereo is providing.”

I think the best message that comes out of this lawsuit being followed is major company and cable providers are not going to make this easy transition to mobile TV and other services unless they get a cut of the money as well. Techcruch reported that the service Netflix brought in third quarter revenue of 822 million dollars. You can see how companies like Verizon are trying to team up with a company to provide stream videos and television shows the right way. There is a lot of money in a booming business of web broadcasting. A business like Aereo could really change the world of streaming if they law suit falls through.