IceTV slays Nine in High Court EPG victory

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 22 April 2009 06:09

Business IT - Technology

Small Australian electronic TV guide provider IceTV has won a historic 'David versus Goliath' victory over one of the country's media giants. IceTV has won the TV program guide copyright case brought by the Nine Network three years ago.

Please see the updated version of this story.

The High Court ruled in IceTV's favour this morning, bringing to a close a case that's been dragging on for three years.

"I would like to thank all our shareholders, our staff, our customers and our business partners," said IceTV chairman and major shareholder Colin O'Brien.

"Without their support during the last three years IceTV would not have survived.

"IceTV now looks forward to a successful future bringing both free to air TV and content via various partners to viewers in a way that satisfies viewer demand, whilst embracing the future of digital free to air television in Australia."

The history of the matter is that IceTV had been supplying an EPG for around a year when the Nine Network began proceedings in May 2006 alleging copyright infringement of its schedule.

This development occurred shortly after Nine acquired HWW, a TV guide aggregator and supplier to print and online media.

Why is the case important? Find out on page 2.