Federal Court Rules in Favor of DISH’s Ad-Skipping Service - East Idaho News
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Federal Court Rules in Favor of DISH’s Ad-Skipping Service

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B 040611 DishNetwork%20PR?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1374766663747PRNewsFoto/DISH Network L.L.C.(ENGLEWOOD, Colo.) — A federal court decision Thursday dismissed effort to ban DISH’s Hopper service, which automatically skips advertisements on prerecorded shows.

The decision, which was handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, affirmed a decision made by a lower court in November. The Fox Broadcasting Company was seeking to prohibit DISH subscribers from using the ad-skipping service on the grounds that it was a violation of copyright.

However, the court determined that Fox’s claims were without merit, as consumers are free to do whatever they want with recordings as long as they don’t resell the content. According to The Washington Post, Judge Sidney Thomas, who wrote the opinion, cited a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that deemed Sony Betamax video recordings legal.

Furthermore, the court ruled that Fox only owns the copyright to its television programs, and not the advertisements aired during commercial breaks.

“This decision is a victory for American consumers, and we are proud to have stood by their side in this important fight over the fundamental rights of consumer choice and control,” said DISH Executive Vice President and General Counsel, R. Stanton Dodge in a press release.

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