You may be aware that Apple is
planning on launching a TV set, dubbed the liv, possibly this year. Apple is
also trying to push its set-top box, known as the Apple TV, now stronger witl
its recent update. However, one thing that is missing from Apple’s ambitious
plans is the ability to offer customers broadcast channels and not just single
episodes of lv shows or movies.
New reports indicate that Apple plans
on supporting such a streaming TV service this year, with channels available
for viewers. The Cupertino tech giant has been in talks with content providers
and it plans on allowing channels to be available as apps. This would mean that
the apps may not just be limited to the iTV, or the Apple TV, but possibly be
available on the iPad or other iDences cross-platform.
Despite the potential, content
providers are not likely to turn away their rights and pricing models to Apple
that easily. Reports show that there has been little headway for Apple in
negotiating any deals as of now. Apple still stands by their goal of
negotiating deals by Christmas, 2012, though.
One thing keeping negotiations
stalled, according to reports, is that Apple wants to control virtually all
aspects of such content distribution — thus leaving content providers with
little negotiation power. For instance, Apple wants to be able to include the
pricing plan for viewers and the content available to them.
A media executive was quoted saying,
“They want everything for nothing.”
CEO of iTV Entertainment drummingup
trouple for apple
Patrick Hughes, the CEO of I1V
Entertainment, is attempting to cause trouble for Apple, even before the
company has a chance to release its rumored Apple television set. The UK based
company has butted heads with Apple before. In 2006, the tech giant released an
image of what appeared to be an Apple branded television box bearing the name
iTV. Since iTV Entertainment feels that they own the trademark to that name,
they warned Apple about implementing it as the title for their rumored device.
Apple agreed to change the name of the television set to “Apple TV,” before it
ever hit store shelves.
But Hughes does not seem to be
completely satisfied, and the CEO is already implementing a plan to 7orce”
Apple into discussing the trademark of the name. Apparently, Hughes feels that
Apple is waiting until the last possible moment to name their product, in an
attempt to steal the ITV name from the corporation. Hughes is threatening to
take legal action against Apple If they refuse to engage in talks regarding the
trademark,
A press release from iTV Entertainment
regarding the matter is set to be released tomorrow and states the following:
“iTV Entertainment, LLC announced today that its counsel, Bart S. Fisher, had
sent a letter to Apple, Inc. board director Al Gore, suggesting that a meeting
be held ‘to see f an amicable and fair transaction arrangement’ could be made
between the parties with regard to Apple’s use of the “1W” mark displayed
throughout their U.S. Patent No. 2011/0154394 Al for a product that is rumored
to be in development by and being planned for a possible launch in 2012. Apple
describes its device as being ‘an audio and video entertainment center
“The Apple iTV entertainment center
device would cause a great amount of confusion with 1W Entertainment customers.
Should ‘the iTV rights issue’ not be resolved, then we would have no other
choice but to ‘bring to the International Trade Commission (ITC) [our trademark
infringement complaint] that could result in an exclusion order being issued
against Apple under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.”
Apple has not yet made a formal
response towards Hughes’ demands.
