Professional Sports Broadcasting and the Slingbox: Profitability Through License, Not Litigation

Abstract

(6 Willamette Sports L.J. 17 (2009)). This article considers whether TV streaming media devices violate copyright law or the licensing agreements between the National Hockey League’s (NHL) and DirecTV’s recent licensing agreements with Sling Media. These devices, such as Slingbox, are “place-shifting” devices that allow streaming onto internet-ready devices. They threaten the profitability of television rights agreements with professional sports league by letting users circumvent proximity controls on which the contracts are based. The article considers various legal questions arising from the use of these devices, including copyright and contract questions. The author concludes that professional sports leagues should enter into licensing agreements with the creator of the devices rather than sue under copyright law.