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CNET Parent CBS Blocks Review and Award To Dish Over Legal Dispute

Posted by timothy on from the but-if-you're-very-very-nice-to-us dept.

Coldeagle writes "It looks as if CNET's parent company, CBS, has laid down the law: 'Just one day after CNet named the Dish "Hopper," a new TV recording system that's drawing rave reviews in the tech press, to an awards shortlist, the site's parent company stepped in and nixed the accolade. Because of a legal battle between CBS and Dish over the Hopper's ad-skipping technology, CBS laid down a ban: CNet won't be allowed to even review Dish products, much less give them awards.' Got to love modern day freedom of the press!"

5 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. 1st amendment is for the government by alen · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's to protect your rights from the government

    CBS is a private business and has no obligation to review a product of another business

    1. Re:1st amendment is for the government by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 4, Informative

      The history of freedom of the press goes back nearly 500 years. The term has always referred to a legal concept that restricts the ability of GOVERNMENTS to interfere with publications.

      Freedom of the press is not and never has been a concept that applies to private concerns. If it did it would be a big issue because it would interfere with property rights.

      Yes perhaps CBS is hurting their reputation by not carrying these advertisements. But this has NOTHING to do with freedom of the press.

    2. Re:1st amendment is for the government by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 4, Informative

      You are under no obligation to fund your detractors. This has been upheld many times:

      * Malls, AKA private property, do not have to let protesters walk around inside protesting businesses.
      * The First Amendment covers the right to say things...and not to say things.
      * Parades are, in fact, expressive events w.r.t. the First Amendment, so religious Irish don't have to let gays march in their parade.

      Even things like cigarette labeling fall under truth in advertising. When it gets too obnoxious or large, it gets slapped down again.

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      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  2. Got to love modern day freedom of the press! by John+Hasler · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes. CBS gets to decide what they publish. You get to decide what you publish. The government has no say in the matter. That's freedom of the press.

    --
    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  3. Re:The Hopper is hilarious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    You don't recall correctly. ReplayTV was sued for implementing a feature similar to Dish's Auto-Hop and went bankrupt trying to fight it. Tivo, fearing a similar lawsuit, disabled the 30-second skip feature by default. Dish has shipped remotes with a 30-second skip button for as long as they've had DVRs, and never was sued for it.

    Dish's Auto-hop has to explicitly be enabled; ReplayTV did it automatically. That's the difference that Dish's legal team is assuming they can use to avoid the same fate of ReplayTV. That, and Dish can afford a long legal battle.