News --
Updated Below
Fox Sues Dish Over Ad-Zapper; Dish Sues Everyone
By Swanni
Washington, D.C.
(May 24, 2012)
-- Fox has sued Dish Network over its new Auto Hop feature which
automatically eliminates network commercials during recorded
playback.
Update at 6:15 p.m. ET: Dish has filed
suit against all four major networks, asking for a ruling that
Auto Hop does not infringe any network copyright and that the
satcaster is not in violation of its agreement with the
networks. Also, NBC Universal filed a separate suit against
Dish.
The Fox suit, which was filed in Los Angeles, says the Auto Hop feature is
not authorized and violates the satcaster's license with Fox.
The network adds that Auto Hop could destroy its business model
because viewers would not see their commercials.
Auto Hop, which was added
this month to Dish's new Hopper HD DVR, allows viewers to watch
the playback of a network show without ever seeing the
commercials. (Auto Hop works with the set-top's 'PrimeTime
Anytime' network recordings. The Hopper automatically records
all primetime shows on ABC, Fox, NBC and CBS.)
Unlike the Fast Forward
button on a DVR, Auto Hop automatically removes the commercial
without the viewer doing a thing.
NBC and Fox network
executives last week blasted the Auto Hop, saying it was an
"insult" and an "attack." _____________________________________________________________________________
