An International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling has confirmed that Comcast “violated” two TiVo Patents. The decision says that Comcast’s infringements occurred on patents owned by Rovi Corp, now part of TiVo. The ITC decision means that Comcast’s highly-specified X1 set-top boxes are now banned from being imported. TiVo’s share price rose 12 per cent in […]
Trade body Cable Europe has levelled criticism at the European Parliament following a vote on the Copyright Regulation taken in the JURI Committee. The vote effectively excludes some technological platforms such as mobile and the Internet from the scope of the retransmission framework – a move which the industry body describes as “out of step” […]
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block AT&T/DirecTV’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner, suggesting that the $85.4 billion (€78.5bn) deal would substantially lessen competition, resulting in higher prices and less innovation for millions of Americans. According to the complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court […]
Following successful legal action taken by Sky, pub licensee Robert Stewart of the Village Inn in Edinburgh has been found in contempt of court and in breach of interdict for infringing Sky’s copyright and showing Sky Sports programming in the premises on a second occasion, without a commercial contract with Sky. The ruling follows an […]
The UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued guidance on illicit streaming devices (ISDs) aimed at helping consumers understand why so called ‘Kodi’ and other illegal IPTV set-top boxes and sticks should be avoided. It tables five frequently asked questions, setting out its advice as follows: What is ‘illicit streaming’ and what devices are commonly used? […]
In the aftermath of the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, 21st Century Fox has made a settlement with a shareholder that is intended to overhaul the workplace culture at the network. The agreement means the creation of a new oversight panel — the Fox News Workplace Professionalism and Inclusion Council — comprising two human […]
At the 87th meeting of the DVB Steering Board (SB) important revisions and updates for three DVB specifications were approved. This development marks the completion of the current generation of specifications for Ultra High Definition Television – DVB UHD-1. DVB UHD-1 covers elements for the improvement of video and audio quality for broadcast TV services. […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved (in a 3:2 vote) voluntary use by broadcasters of the new ATSC 3.0 advanced TV transmission scheme for the USA. The FCC, in its decision, has opened the starting gate for the USA’s next broadcasting standard for FTA terrestrial stations. In essence, the FCC ruling permits TV stations in […]
Digital UK, the body responsible for supporting DTT in the UK, has published a study, The defragmentation dividend – A more efficient use of the UHF band, which outlines options to deliver a major boost in spectrum capacity for mobile broadband services. The study, by telecoms specialist Aetha Consulting, explores the scope for a fundamental […]
Croatia’s Electronic Media Council has ruled that there are no legal conditions for the purchase of 100 per cent of the shares of Croatian national broadcaster Nova TV by Slovenia Broadband. In its ruling, the country’s media regulator said that this was due to the “inadmissibility of concentration” as foreseen in the Electronic Media Act, […]