By Samantha Bookman, FierceOnlineVideo, April 15, 2014
Next Tuesday, the Supreme Court takes up the issue of whether Aereo is violating copyright law by providing over-the-top streaming of broadcast channels through its antenna-DVR service. While it's not known which way the justices will rule, or when--the case could continue well past next week--media and technology organizations are already taking sides.
But even though a decision for the broadcasters could spell the end for Aereo as an entity, does it really matter in the long run? Online video is clearly here to stay, and consumer demand for content that is easy and cheap to access, anytime, anywhere, will likely overwhelm the broadcast industry's protectionist stance.
Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumer Electronics Association, has a deep interest in the case: He was involved in the landmark 1985 Sony Betamax video recording case, on which Aereo's argument is partly based (it also draws on the 1982 Cablevision case). The CEA filed an amicus brief with the Court last week supporting Aereo.
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Neal McLain