| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic commerce |
| Founded | 2007[1] |
| Founder(s) | Todd Weaver |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Area served | United States, World |
| Key people | Todd Weaver, Founder and CEO |
| Products | ivi TV |
| Website | www.ivi.tv |
ivi, Inc. commonly just ivi, is a Seattle based[2] American corporation that offers a software application[3] providing live video streaming over the Internet for a flat rate.[4] ivi pronounced ivy[5] is the first online cable company.[6] The ivi TV player is a downloaded software application that runs on Windows, Macintosh, or GNU/Linux computers[7][8] offering live television on the Internet.
ivi is currently in the midst of a copyright lawsuit (# 1:2010cv07415) filed September 28, 2010[9] with major US TV Networks.[10] This case has been deemed "The Case That Could Finally Put Live TV on the Internet" by Forbes, since the outcome of the ivi case will determine if the Internet will be able to compete with Cable and Satellite Television.[11] A group of four public interest groups The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Media Access Project, Open Technology Initiative, and Public Knowledge have filed an amicus curiae brief in support of ivi.[12] stating "The law does not favor larger or better-funded entities over new or smaller ones. Nor is it a bludgeon to be used by large, entrenched interests to eliminate nascent competitors."[13] On February 22, 2011 District Judge Naomi Buchwald granted an injunction shutting down most of the broadcast stations carried by ivi.[14] ivi and its CEO, the defendants, are arguing that ivi fits the definition of a "cable system" under section 111(f) of U.S. Copyright Law, the US TV Networks, the plaintiffs', are arguing that ivi doesn't fit.[15] The relevant part of copyright law reads "A cable system is a facility that “makes secondary transmissions of such signals or programs by wires, cables, microwave, or other communications channels to subscribing members of the public.”".[16] ivi immediately filed an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case currently resides.[17][18]