• by Wayne Friedman , October 4, 2010

Another new streaming video service, FilmOn, has been sued by the four broadcast networks for violating their programming copyrights. The move was expected.

FilmOn has not said that it paid for network programming -- claiming that it has the right to re-air TV shows under special copyright considerations, much in the same way that cable and satellite programming providers air programs.

Last week, the Seattle-based ivi TV was sued by the networks for copyright infringement as well. The company re-airs local broadcast signals from stations in Seattle and New York. FilmOn takes network programming signals from stations in Los Angeles.

To upstage any action, ivi TV sued the networks first in mid-September, soon after its launch in anticipation of an expected legal fight. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court in Seattle, Washington as "a preemptive move to discourage needless litigation from big media."

Because of its technology, ivi TV said it complies with copyright laws, saying "secondary transmission of an over-the-air primary transmission is not an infringement of copyrights in the works contained in the primary transmission."

Last Friday, in a New York federal court, the networks filed a suit against FilmOn, saying "... the loss of control over the distribution of plaintiff's broadcast signals and copyrighted programming... threatens plaintiffs with substantial irremediable losses," according to documents.

FilmOn.com, started up by British billionaire Alki David as a programming site, features U.S. TV stations, U.S. cable networks and several International channels. The site, which launched in the United Kingdom last year, made its U.S. debut two weeks ago.

Both FilmOn.com and ivi TV launches were timed with the new broadcast season.