Technical expert testifies in MediaCorp vs RecordTV trial
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s largest broadcaster, MediaCorp, produced a technical expert in court on Thursday to give evidence that an Internet start-up had infringed the copyrights in its free-to-air programmes and broadcasts on Channels 5, 8 and Channel NewsAsia.
RecordTV is suing MediaCorp for millions of dollars for “groundless threats” of copyright infringement, while MediaCorp is counter-suing for copyright infringement.
In his affidavit, Derek Kiong, programme director of Technical Curriculum at the Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore, said that unlike a dedicated digital video recorder (DVR), users of RecordTV have no control over the web-based recording system.
RecordTV’s CEO, Carlos Fernandes, has said that his service functions like a home video recorder. But Mr Kiong said unlike a DVR, where users decide which video recordings to keep, edit or delete, RecordTV imposes a 15-day retention of its recordings.
He added that even though RecordTV has attempted to limit its users to Singapore residents by restricting access to IP addresses known to be sited in Singapore, an IP address is not always a good or correct indication of the location of the computer or its users.
It is argued that users of RecordTV are merely making electronic requests for a recording to be made, while the actual recordings are done by RecordTV’s system.
In a cross-examination, RecordTV’s lawyer, Koh Chia Ling, asserted that the online service’s systems are automated, with no human intervention. “The system draws information from (MediaCorp’s) electronic programme guide,” he said.
At this juncture, MediaCorp’s lead counsel Davinder Singh interjected saying: “While the defendants have a schedule, the plaintiff has to install a software to draw that information in. It doesn’t just come uninvited.”
Mr Koh also argued that his client did not try to suppress evidence as earlier alleged by Mr Singh.
MediaCorp’s senior vice-president of Network Programming and Promotions, Khiew Voon Kwang, also took the stand and will continue his testimony on Friday.
- CNA/so
Source : Channel NewsAsia - 03 July 2009
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