MLB Still Claiming Sling Breaks The Law In Letting People Watch Content They Paid For
from the put-up-or-shut-up dept
A year ago, Major League Baseball, an organization that seems to actively try to turn off potential fans by illegally trying to claim ownership of factual information, started making noises that SlingMedia's Slingbox was somehow illegal for letting people who had legally paid to watch baseball games on their home TV system watch that same content outside their home. Apparently, no one has explained to MLB how ridiculous this is because they're publicly saying that Slingboxes are illegal again. It's really a money grab, with MLB trying to get Sling to pay them off to not sue -- and subtly threatening the company by saying that "there's no guarantee that Slingbox will be around next year." This seems like a blatant threat with no actual legal basis -- though it may force Sling to waste time and money defending itself while scaring some other less well funded companies from even entering this space. And, the most ridiculous part is that Slingbox is a great tool for baseball fans helping them to get more enjoyment and more value of the game. Yet, MLB is upset because how dare anyone give fans more value without first paying MLB their share.
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That's a nice company you've got. by sehlat on May 30th, 2007 @ 3:27pm
Be a shame if anything happened to it.
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Extortion by Starky on May 30th, 2007 @ 3:37pm
Is it just me, or is extortion becoming a standard business model lately?
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screw them by steve on May 30th, 2007 @ 4:01pm
i used to watch / listen to baseball games
after the baseball strike i stopped and never looked back
this is another reason not to even pay attention to them
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by jon on May 30th, 2007 @ 4:33pm
They are obviously doing this because their services MLB.tv MLB.tv Premium are, in many respects, competing with it. The whole idea is that you can watch out of area games, ideal for the person on the road who still wants to catch her home team's big game.
Their just trying to bully out the competition instead of competing. An understandable position considering how crappy their service can be.
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MLB can Eat Me! by Mike on May 30th, 2007 @ 5:14pm
After the strike I too refused to watch games and support the league, but have been warming up to the idea of caring once again. Cancel that.
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by Anonymous Poster on May 30th, 2007 @ 5:29pm
Oh, major sports leagues -- when will you learn that your viewers/fans are what you DON'T need to alienate and drive off?
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Sling by dave on May 30th, 2007 @ 5:53pm
Can TV content captured by Sling be simultaneously broad casted on the web via a user's personal web site? If so, I see some problems looming on the horizon.
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by Kyros on May 30th, 2007 @ 5:57pm
Dave, I see your point, but I can run from my TV, directly to my PC, and then to my website. I already have that capability, and I don't need sling. Users have had that ability since the internet and Tv-Tuner cards existed. :)
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Re: by enigmvab on May 30th, 2007 @ 8:42pm
the service will only allow you to recieve what you would have recieved on the system you pay for or recieve on regular tv. you can'tget something that is broadcast in wisconsin from a newyork affiliate unless you are in wisconsin. that is the big thing. you can only watch what you have recorded or paid for.
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by Anonymous Coward on May 31st, 2007 @ 9:17am
baseball sux
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How many people by JustMatt on May 31st, 2007 @ 9:46am
Are really using Sling to watch games?? Seriously, a few dozen tops?
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Nobody Gets It by Cowboy Cal on May 31st, 2007 @ 4:46pm
Everyone is missing the point here and that is that MLB and the sponsors etc. actually benefit from Sling distribution because you give people who have already paid for the right to view the content more time to be influenced through the advertising that is both located within the stadiums, but it also broadens the viewership for on air advertising!!! MLB wake up, this is helping you - the idea here would be to get the demographic data from Sling so you could increase ad rates and further promote the stuff that is going on.
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Re: Nobody Gets It by crizchun on Jun 1st, 2007 @ 11:20am
You're absolutely right Cal.
Besides, I watch SNY (Home of the Mets) from my Slingbox nearly everyday, and it's MY cable box. I see no reason for MLB to be thinking of this. Greed.
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brains vs brawn? by Coaster on Jun 1st, 2007 @ 7:01pm
Maybe it's the steroids speaking...watching a program you have paid for is not illegal.
And too, doesn't MLB make ENOUGH money yet?
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