Aereo, the embattled startup, has been officially banned from live streaming broadcast shows to online subscribers due to a ruling by a New York federal judge. According to a previous ruling by the United States Supreme Court, Aereo had been violating the copyrights of major broadcasters by streaming their shows online.
Aereo had been hoping courts and regulators would recognize the service as a cable provider with a license under the Copyright Act. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan reinforced earlier rulings that broadcasters can seek a nationwide injunction against Aereo.
However, Aereo did get some relief. Nathan allowed the service to stream delayed broadcasts. She left that debate open for future arguments, but overall the company looks to have been shut down.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled that Aereo had infringed on broadcasting companies' copyrights by sending live and recorded shows to subscribers for $8 or $12 per month, but it didn't pay the broadcasters.
After the ruling, Aereo argued it was a broadcasting company. The company also met with the Federal Communications Commission in an attempt to be reclassified as a "multichannel video provider" like cable and satellite companies, which would allow them to charge a fee for their transmissions.
According to Aereo, its service adds competition to the video marketplace, but according to the plaintiffs—including, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBCUniversal and Telemundo—the company was stealing content.
