Aereo wins a big one in streaming case against TV networks

Aereo offers live TV streaming.

(Credit: John Falcone/CNET)

Aereo, the streaming service that allows subscribers to receive and record programs over the air, has won a key court ruling today.The U.S. Court of Appears for the Second Circuit today (PDF) found that a lawsuit brought before it by television networks arguing that Aereo's service is illegal, should be thrown out. The court found that the networks "have not demonstrated that they are likely to prevail on the merits of this claim in their copyright infringement action."

Late last year, a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Aereo's service after most major networks, including NBC, ABC, and CBS (CNET's parent company), hit the company with a lawsuit over alleged copyright infringement. The networks have argued that Aereo's antenna, which receives over-the-air programming and then allows users to watch and record them on any Internet-connected device for $12 a month, is illegal. Aereo has expressed its innocence.

The networks are ostensibly seeking fees from Aereo for allowing its customers to record their programming. Aereo, however, has argued that the customers actually own the antenn... [Read more]