Aereo is a streaming service, that captures broadcast signals on miniature antenna’s and delivering these channels to customers, some who pay a subscription.

Filmon offers a similar service.

But today (Wednesday 25th June) the US Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 vote that Aereo is violating the broadcasters’ copyrights by taking the signals without paying them.

The ruling is a victory for the major television networks, which had argued that Aereo’s business model amounted to a theft of their programming.

The ruling states, “given Aereo’s overwhelming likeness to the cable companies targeted by the 1976 amendments, this sole technological difference between Aereo and traditional cable companies does not make a critical difference here.”

One US Broadcsater said “We are pleased with today’s decision which is great news for content creators and their audiences,”.

Aereo started operations about two years ago and broadcasters, including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, were quick to go to court trying tio stop Aereo claiming that the technology violated copyrights.