Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Aereo Embraces Ruling, Tries To Re-Classify Itself As Cable Company

Posted by samzenpus on from the bend-like-the-broadcast-reed dept.

An anonymous reader writes Rather than completely shuttering its TV-over-the-internet business, Aereo has decided to embrace the Supreme Court's recent decision against it. In a letter to the lower court overseeing the litigation between the company and network broadcasters, Aereo asks to be considered a cable company and to be allowed to pay royalties as such. Cable companies pay royalties to obtain a copyright statutory license under the Copyright Act to retransmit over-the-air programming, and the royalties are set by the government, not the broadcasters. The broadcasters are not happy with this move, of course, claiming that Aereo should not be allowed to flip-flop on how it defines itself.

3 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. If it looks like a duck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Aereo to broadcasters: "quack".

  2. Simplified summary by cdrudge · · Score: 5, Funny

    So a simplified summary of the issue is:

    Aereo: We're not a cable company, we don't have to pay royalties.
    Networks: Yes you are, you have to pay us
    Aereo: No we aren't. Sue us.
    Networks: Ok
    Lower Courts:You're like a cable company.
    Aereo: Are you sure?
    SCOTUS: Yes.
    Aereo: Crap. We'll be a cable company and pay the royalties then.
    Networks: You're not a cable company
    Aereo: C'mon man!

  3. Re:It's only fair by nedlohs · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unsurprisingly you do not make up 100% of cable operator revenue. In fact you make up approximately 0% and hence your particular preferences mean exactly diddly squat to their decision on how to value the sports stations that drive a large portion of their revenue.

    You can still sit comfortable in your knowledge of your superiority to the people who do enjoy watching sports, of course.