AfterDawn: Tech news

As expected, MPAA sues movie streaming site Zediva

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Apr 2011 12:53 User comments (7)

As expected, MPAA sues movie streaming site Zediva The MPAA has surprised no one today by filing a copyright infringement suit against streaming site Zediva, claiming the site does not have proper licenses from the studios.
Zediva launched in January and has become very popular because it streams new releases (like Black Swan, The Social Network, more) and does not have delay windows like Netflix and Redbox do for physical discs.

The company "rents" users a DVD player and DVD and allows them to control it via online streaming.

What has helped the company become so popular is the prices of the movies. You can buy 10 streams for $10.

Zediva has claimed it does not need licenses because it is just "like" a brick-and-mortar rental company. When a customer rents a DVD, it takes it out of circulation, and does not create any digital copies.



The MPAA does not agree:

Comparing itself to a rental store is disingenuous, and Defendants are attempting to rely on technical gimmicks in an effort to avoid complying with U.S. Copyright Law. Defendants operate an online VOD service, not a neighborhood rental store.


The studios are scared Zediva will crush its profit margins and its relationship with companies that do offering licensed streaming, like Apple, Amazon and Netflix.

As is standard, the MPAA is seeking $150,000 per infringement.

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7 user comments

15.4.2011 14:09
lissenup3
Inactive

sounds like MPAA has their work cut out for them.

25.4.2011 14:35
wukka
Inactive

A great big capital

Quote:
F-U
to you MPAA.

you greedy MF'ers...what is next? cracking down on public libraries because they let the public checkout DVDs?

35.4.2011 14:48

The MPAA and RIAA are way out of hand.
They need to get bitched slap from a judge(s) that do not pocket money or are anyway involved with these sue happy idiots past or present.
Jeff

45.4.2011 15:22

options to get it legally are aways bad!
good is to get it free on torrents and other methods.

55.4.2011 16:56

Haha, it's so funny watching people play these kinds of games. And of course funny means dismally depressing. Brings to mind Kodak <.< No need to provide a relevant service or product to anyone, just sue the hell out of everyone and thing making you irrelevant...

65.4.2011 18:30

Quote:
What has helped the company become so popular is the prices of the movies. You can buy 10 streams for $10

Any time someone offers good service for a great price someone comes after them. Obviously this time it's the MPAA. Like Redbox having to pay off the movie studios just to rent a dvd on the day it's released. Just another example of the greedy movie studios and the MPAA.

79.4.2011 17:19
jack336
Unverified new user

wukka, libraries pay the studios for a circulation license.

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