A big win for FilmOn’s Alki David came Thursday. Deadline is reporting that a U.S. District Court judge has ruled that major broadcast networks might have to license their programming to David’s online TV streaming service FilmOn after all. This is a major turnaround from what courts have ruled before, usually in favor of the networks when it comes to withholding licensing.
According to Judge George Wu’s ruling, the networks’ proposed distinctions between traditional TV networks and online streaming services like FilmOn might not exist. Wu stated that regardless of how strong policy arguments might be concerning supposed differences between FilmOn and traditional cable services, the Copyright Act “simply does not draw the distinction Plaintiffs surge.” However, even with the ruling, Wu suggested for companies to maintain a status quo as appeals go forward.
Previously, networks have argued that TV companies don’t have to provide FilmOn or other similar online services with licenses to their programming. Now that this ruling has come out, it’ll be interesting what happens when the appealing process goes forward.
What do you think about this news? Are you of the mindset that online streaming services can obtain licenses to broadcast programming from traditional networks? Give your opinions in the comments section below.
