iCraveTV

Following on from a similar action in the U.S., a suit has been launched in Canada by a coalition of broadcasters, including CBC, CHUM, CTV, Rogers and WIC, against the Toronto-based Internet company iCraveTV, which provides a real time stream of TV broadcast on its Web site. At issue is whether iCraveTV is violating the original broadcasters’ copyrights by rebroadcasting the material without permission. In January 2000, a US court granted an injunction against iCraveTV to a powerful group of movie producers, TV networks and professional sports leagues forcing the company to temporarily suspend its operations. A US congressional committee hearing into the issue has followed. iCraveTV, however, is planning to resume its service within the next month, and believes that it will be able to prevent US access to its site by the use of firewalls. The company is insisting that what it is doing is permitted under Canadian law. McMillan Binch lawyers along with Roger T. Hughes, Q.C., of Sim, Hughes, Ashton & McKay are acting for the broadcasters in the suit. McMillan Binch litigation partners David W. Kent and Dan V. MacDonald led the team from McMillan, which included Elizabeth A. Hall, Alice-Anne Morlock, Simon Chester and Alexander J. Du. Davies, Ward & Beck are representing iCraveTV.