EFF urged a federal appeals court to protect the rights of start-up innovators working to improve TV viewing and other entertainment experiences, arguing that big content companies should not be allowed to block add-on technology with baseless copyright claims.

At issue in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is whether TV networks can shut down a TV streaming service called Aereokiller, which sends over-the-air television signals to users’ personal computing devices.  The networks claim that Aereokiller violates copyright by retransmitting their signals.  In its amicus brief, EFF asks the court to look to recent court rulings that have blocked TV networks’ various attempts to quash new products and constrict viewers’ rights.