Ivi, Inc.

Last updated

ivi, Inc.
Company typePrivate company
Industry Electronic commerce
Founded2007 [1]
FounderTodd Weaver
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, U.S.
Area served
United States, World
Key people
Todd Weaver, Founder and CEO
Productsivi TV
Services VC-1 video download
Website www.ivi.tv

Ivi Inc. also called Ivi, is a Seattle-based [2] American corporation which offers a software application [3] providing live video streaming over the Internet for a flat rate. [4] Ivi (pronounced "ivy") [5] is the first online cable company. [6] The Ivi TV player is a downloadable software application that runs on Windows, Macintosh, or Linux computers [7] [8] that offers live television over the Internet.

Contents

Ivi has been in a large lawsuit ( WPIX, Inc. v. ivi, Inc. ) filed on September 28, 2010 [9] and decided on August 27, 2012 [10] with several major US TV networks. [11] This case has been deemed "The Case That Could Finally Put Live TV on the Internet" by Forbes, since the outcome of the case will determine if shows streamed over the Internet will be able to compete with cable and satellite television. [12] A group of four public interest groups; the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Media Access Project, Open Technology Initiative, and Public Knowledge filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Ivi [13] stating "The law does not favor larger or better-funded entities over new or smaller ones, nor is it a bludgeon to be used by large, entrenched interests to eliminate nascent competitors". [14]

On February 22, 2011 District Judge Naomi Buchwald granted an injunction, shutting down most of the broadcast stations carried by Ivi. [15] Ivi and its CEO argued that the company fitted the definition of a "cable system" under section 111(f) of U.S. Copyright Law. The plaintiffs, US TV Networks, argued that Ivi doesn't fit this description. [15] The relevant part of copyright law reads "A cable system is a facility that 'makes secondary transmissions of such signals or programs by wires, cables, microwave, or other communications channels to subscribing members of the public.'" [16] Ivi immediately filed an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, [17] [18] but the court affirmed the district court's decision. [19]

See also

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<i>WPIX, Inc. v. ivi, Inc.</i> American legal case

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References

  1. ↑ "ivi Management".
  2. ↑ RSS Feed for Liz Gannes Email Liz Gannes Liz Gannes (February 10, 2009). "One to Watch: ivi TV Brings TV to PC". Gigaom.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Dean Takahashi (September 13, 2010). "ivi delivers what we've all been waiting for – live TV on the internet". Venturebeat.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ "ivi, Inc. Launches Highly Disruptive Software Delivering Live TV to the Internet". Prweb.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Is Ivi TV Really the Future of Streaming Television?". Huffington Post. September 24, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ Frank Gruber (January 5, 2011). "ivi TV Launches First Internet Cable Network". Techcocktail.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ Picchi, Aimee. "As Cablevision and Fox Battle, the Winner May Be Upstart ivi TV". Dailyfinance.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Watch TV, Online - Download ivi TV". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ "WPIX, Inc. et al v. IVI, Inc. et al". Dockets.justia.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "WPIX, Inc. v. IVI, Inc., 11-788-cv". Law.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  11. ↑ Mullin, Joe (December 3, 2010). "Memo To TV Networks: FilmOn And ivi TV Are Different Companies". Paidcontent.org. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ Dorothy Pomerantz (April 8, 2011). "The Case That Could Finally Put Live TV on the Internet". Forbes. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ Gruenwald, Juliana (February 1, 2011). "Prominent Public Interest Groups Rally Around ivi TV". Techdailydose.nationaljournal.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Public Knowledge Amicus Curiae Brief" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  15. 1 2 Mullin, Joe (February 22, 2011). "ivi TV Loses Major Court Decision—But Shouldn't Have". Paidcontent.org. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  16. ↑ Section 111 of Copyright Law Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "Broadcast Signal Streamer ivi.tv Plans Appeal". Tvtechnology.com. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  18. ↑ Gustin, Sam (February 22, 2011). "Internet TV Service ivi Chief Vows to Appeal Judge's 'Wrong' Ruling". Wired. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  19. ↑ WPIX v. ivi, - CourtListener.com
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