A federal judge in New York issued a temporary restraining order
prohibiting FilmOn.com Inc. from streaming copyrighted
broadcast-television programming as the big networks intensify
their fight to stop Internet companies from distributing their
content online.
Owners of the major broadcast-television networks are suing
FilmOn.com, which streams broadcast TV stations online without
their consent, grabbing free over-the-air broadcast signals and
converting them to online streams. A similar case against Ivi Inc.
could be heard in coming weeks. The web companies have claimed
their right to distribute the networks under a provision in the
U.S. Copyright Act.
The suspension order on FilmOn is effective pending the courts
deciding whether it will issue a preliminary injunction.
FilmOn said Tuesday it has "temporarily ceased retransmission of
free network television," but that it expects to bring the major
networks back to its lineup in the near future, as it has "begun
very positive discussions with TV networks affiliates and other
content owners to provide our delivery service and measurement
analytics to stream their live content online."
The company said it received more than 30 million individual
users in the few weeks it provided basic TV access to consumers'
mobile devices.
-By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240;
matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com