Thursday, Feb. 21 Fox Broadcasting requested an injunction in Los Angeles against Dish Network's "on the go" feature, which it claims violates Fox's license agreement with Dish. The feature allows users to watch shows recorded and broadcast live on their mobile devices, although the network's agreement with Fox only allows it to re-transmit a live broadcast signal over its satellite system.
"Paying Dish for a satellite television subscription does not buy anyone the right to receive Fox's live broadcast signal over the Internet or to make copies of Fox programs to watch 'on the go,' because Dish does not have the right to offer these services to its subscribers in the first place," Fox wrote in its filing, PC Mag reports.
The new Hopper box comes with Dish Network's Sling technology, which allows the box to connect to the Internet, and users to access recorded content through the Dish Anywhere app or website (dishanywhere.com).
In 2012, Fox also sued Dish for its "Primetime Anytime" feature, which records all four major networks' shows, and allows the customer to skip commercials with the "AutoHop" function. In November, Fox lost its case and filed an appeal, but the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco has not yet issued a ruling, Bloomberg says. The hearing is set to take place on March 22.
Dish is involved in several legal skirmishes. CBS is also suing the company over AutoHop, according to PC Mag, and it ordered CNET, a subsidiary, not to award CES's Best of Show top prize to Dish because of the ongoing conflict. CNET originally selected the Hopper as CES's best gadget, but rescinded the award as a result of CBS's lawsuit. CEA, CNET's co-host for CES 2013, announced on Jan. 31 that it would name the Hopper as Best in Show, along with the Razer Edge gaming tablet.
"This year's finalist selection process goes against everything that we stand for, which is why we need to take our own action," Karen Shupka told PC Mag, senior vice president of the International CES.
Despite an increase in subscribers, Dish's fourth-quarter earnings fell 33 percent last year.
