Optus loses appeal, shuts down TV Now

Optus will shut down its web-based TV recording service after exhausting all its legal opportunities in a battle against the AFL, NRL and Telstra.

Optus was denied leave to appeal its case today (7 September 2012) in the High Court, where it hoped to overturn a Federal Court decision which found TV Now breached exclusive copyright deals between the football codes and Telstra.

The AFL and NRL argued that TV Now breached their copyright because it allowed consumers to record matches from free-to-air television and replay in near-live conditions on mobiles and computers. Both the AFL and NRL have sold exclusive internet broadcast rights to Telstra.

Optus argued that TV Now fitted into section 111 of the Copyright Act, which allows people to record shows for their personal use.

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