Steve Mehs
06-07-02, 04:56 AM
According to wire sources, users of the PVR, ReplayTV, sued media companies to win a guarantee that they are in fact not breaking the law when they skip commercials and record television programs for later viewing.
Five users of SONICblue's ReplayTV said in their lawsuit that they fear media companies will sue them for using the device. The plaintiffs filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the same federal court in Los Angeles that is hearing a complaint from movie and television studios that ReplayTV allows customers to violate their copyrights.
Media executives have said that skipping commercials amounts to stealing, and won a motion, since reversed, that would have required the manufacturer to monitor the viewing habits of its customers.
When asked by Reuters, Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) said the consumer suit was a welcome development, and planned to introduce a bill soon that would protect consumers' fair-use rights.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)
Five users of SONICblue's ReplayTV said in their lawsuit that they fear media companies will sue them for using the device. The plaintiffs filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the same federal court in Los Angeles that is hearing a complaint from movie and television studios that ReplayTV allows customers to violate their copyrights.
Media executives have said that skipping commercials amounts to stealing, and won a motion, since reversed, that would have required the manufacturer to monitor the viewing habits of its customers.
When asked by Reuters, Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) said the consumer suit was a welcome development, and planned to introduce a bill soon that would protect consumers' fair-use rights.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)