A huge group of Finnish old media companies and different organisations are wishing TV-Kaista a Merry Christmas in the form of a lawsuit for TV-Kaista’s service offering, according to Helsingin Sanomat. TV-Kaista has become famous in Finland (and outside Finland as well) to enable television watching regardless of time and location – up to two weeks that is. TV-Kaista offers the possibility to view any of the 11 Finnish televison channels over the internet two weeks back. This does not go down well with MTV Media, Sanoma Television, Yleisradio, Kopiosto, Teosto and Sound and Video producers’ association.
This isn’t the first of its kind and definitely not the last. The timing of the filing could not have been better, not for Christmas’ part, but because the old media companies are finally realising that there’s potential in online video services having waited on the side lines for years. The reason for the case is that TV-Kaista does not have agreements with the television channels and other copyright owners to distribute their material further.
I don’t see this case ending well for TV-Kaista, knowing what the old media can do regarding copyright issues. However, I do hope there’s some sensibility in the midst of the fight regarding the innovation and consumer appraisal TV-Kaista has received – it’s a clear sign they’re onto something.
Biovakka Suomi Oy 
Bitbar
That’s unfortunate. What’s TVKaista’s point of view on this?
I hope TV-kaista will win this one. In the end they just have implemented a remote DVR as a web-service. If this is found to be illegal, it should also be reviewed if DVR:s are legal.
Some argue that DVR:s (and VCR:s) are legal because of the media tax (kasettimaksu) – maybe the legal argument could be resolved by agreeing on a similar media tax for the online services.
Whatever the outcome, the trial will be interesting. It will also determine the future of rival net-dvr services like Elisa Viihde. I just love the net-dvr feature, would be sad to loose it… another example of traditional media just being pissed for not having invented it themselves first.
Does anyone know what the deal is between cable TV operators and content providers? Premium TV is a clear cut case of of course, but I am thinking of free to air commercial TV channels like MTV3 or Nelonen. Do cable operators pay for the privilege of being able to distribute the content? In some ways it should be exactly the opposite.
Best of luck to TV-Kaista. Last I heard they were several percentage points of the Finnish inter-ISP traffic exchanged at the FICIX. Probably way more by now. Would be sad to lose all that good Internet traffic. ;-)