Dish Network’s Auto Hop feature has a neat trick: it lets you watch shows completely without commercials, starting at 1AM the day after the shows air. The feature only works on network shows — Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC — and it’s already stirring up some legal controversy, as Fox has sued Dish saying the service violates its copyrights. Here’s the full statement from Fox, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter:
Fox sues Dish Network over Auto Hop commercial-skipping service (update: NBC, CBS suing as well)
Fox has sued Dish Network today, over the new Auto Hop commercial-skipping service.
Fox has sued Dish Network today, over the new Auto Hop commercial-skipping service.
is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.
We were given no choice but to file suit against one of our largest distributors, DISH Network, because of their surprising move to market a product with the clear goal of violating copyrights and destroying the fundamental underpinnings of the broadcast television ecosystem. Their wrongheaded decision requires us to take swift action in order to aggressively defend the future of free, over-the-air television.
NBC had previously expressed some concern over the service as well, calling it “an attack on our ecosystem.” Dish has filed a suit simultaneously, asking for a firm declaration of the legality of its service. We’ll be watching to see where the ruling lands.
Update: Fox isn’t the only one taking its concern to the courts; according to Reuters, both CBS and NBC have filed lawsuits against Dish as well. There’s no word yet on whether ABC is going to join the fray, but we’ll update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
