Aereo Allowed to Continue Streaming Despite Lawsuits

NEW YORK: The online TV service Aereo, which is backed by Barry Diller, has been cleared to continue operating, after a federal judge denied a temporary injunction sought by broadcasters such as CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.

FOX, CBS, NBC and 14 other broadcasters previously filed copyright infringement suits against Aereo. Today, a U.S. District Court judge rejected the broadcasters’ request to shut down the service.

Aereo, which launched in March, operates a network of tiny antennas that deliver broadcast television over the Internet. For $12 per month, customers can watch broadcast TV on their iOS or Roku devices, including tablets. The argument is that over-the-air television is available freely to anyone who owns an antenna, however the broadcasters say that "no amount of technological gimmickry" alters the copyright law. Aereo has filed a countersuit against the broadcasters, alleging that it does not infringe on any copyrights.