In another major blow for Locast and its efforts to stream local channels over the internet, a judge has permanently barred the streamer from continuing operations.
The service has taken a number of hits in recent weeks following Judge Louis L. Stanton’s decision to rule against Locast’s request for a summary judgment in its ongoing dispute with major broadcasters. ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC joined forces to sue Locast back in 2019, but the streamer said its activities were protected under the Copyright Act.
However, in late August, Stanton cited revenue well in excess of Locast’s operating costs, writing, “in 2020 Locast made far more money from user charges than was necessary to defray its costs of maintaining and operating its service.”
In the days following Stanton’s ruling, Locast first opted to stop requesting donations from its users. But it quickly followed up with an announcement that it was suspending operations for the time being.
And then this week, Stanton signed a permanent injunction order barring Locast founder David Goodfriend and his nonprofit known as Sports Fans Coalition NY from operating the streaming service.
The order does allow for Locast to apply for a stay of the injunction, and it remains to be seen how the streaming service will respond.
As always, we’ll continue tracking this ongoing story.