IceTV wins EPG High Court decision

in brief Australian company IceTV has won a long-running court battle against the Nine Network in which the television station had claimed IceTV's electronic program guide infringed its copyright.

Electronic program guides allow people to better integrate their digital recording devices and media centres with television programming schedules; however, some television stations have objected to the use of the devices on the basis that they own the data included.

Today's judgement in the High Court in Canberra backs IceTV's appeal against an earlier decision by the full Federal Court for the Nine Network, and is based on the High Court action in October 2008.

"Since its incorporation in 2005, IceTV has had one aim: to give TV viewers the freedom to record and manage their TV shows as they choose," IceTV said in a statement. "To record what they want, skip what they want and watch it at a time that suits them. No longer do viewers have to watch their chosen shows when the networks tell them or to watch content they would rather skip through. IceTV gives them this choice."