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MediaCorp loses suit to RecordTV
December 10th, 2010 | Author: Online Press
A SMALL start-up offering an online service that allowed consumers to watch national broadcaster MediaCorp’s programmes online will be able to resume service, after the Court of Appeal ruled in its favour.
The decision, which is a stunning reversal of a High Court ruling last year, also sets precedents here in the controversial intersection between copyright and online media.
The long-running case began in 2007 when MediaCorp sent the start-up, RecordTV, letters demanding that it halt its free service – which allows consumers to record the broadcaster’s free-to-air television shows and watch them online at a later time.
MediaCorp had yet to sue for any copyright infringement then, but RecordTV decided to launch a pre-emptive strike, suing MediaCorp first on grounds that these threats were ‘groundless’.
It argued then that the letters dampened consumer interest in the service, and also crimped its ability to raise funds from investors.
The case, which remains the only reported one of this nature here, was heard in the High Court last year and ended in a defeat for RecordTV – with Justice Andrew Ang ruling against it.
.
by Chua Hian Hou
Source: StraitsTimes
December 10th, 2010 | Author: Online Press
A SMALL start-up offering an online service that allowed consumers to watch national broadcaster MediaCorp’s programmes online will be able to resume service, after the Court of Appeal ruled in its favour.
The decision, which is a stunning reversal of a High Court ruling last year, also sets precedents here in the controversial intersection between copyright and online media.
The long-running case began in 2007 when MediaCorp sent the start-up, RecordTV, letters demanding that it halt its free service – which allows consumers to record the broadcaster’s free-to-air television shows and watch them online at a later time.
MediaCorp had yet to sue for any copyright infringement then, but RecordTV decided to launch a pre-emptive strike, suing MediaCorp first on grounds that these threats were ‘groundless’.
It argued then that the letters dampened consumer interest in the service, and also crimped its ability to raise funds from investors.
The case, which remains the only reported one of this nature here, was heard in the High Court last year and ended in a defeat for RecordTV – with Justice Andrew Ang ruling against it.
.
by Chua Hian Hou
Source: StraitsTimes
