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Free Universe Network (FUN), the German industry alliance which supports an open set-top box market based on the common interface solution and opposes Kirch Group's proprietary d-box technology, has, together with Irdeto Access, sued Kirch Pay-TV.
According to FUN, Kirch Pay-TV made a commitment to offer its pay-TV channels on digital platforms other than those requiring the d-box at a European Commission examination into BSkyB's (report) entry into the company as a shareholder. Its subsequent failure to do so has prompted the industry alliance to take court action despite FUN's requests.
FUN states that its aim is to secure the encryption of Premiere World's channels in the system provided by Irdeto access as well as the d-box technology Betacrypt using the simulcrypt method. Then the manufacturers of common interface decoders would "for the first time gain equal opportunities in competition".
FUN adds that although Kirch Group has issued a statement supporting the common interface solution, it has so far failed to stand by its word. As a result, the industry alliance, according to its chairman Lutz Mahnke, "has been forced to initiate forceful steps".
Mahnke believes that "in an open market there is no room for the exclusive coupling of decoder and content that Premiere has so far been practising." He is also of the view that FUN is not alone with this conviction and its request to use open European standards such as the common interface and MHP solutions. Indeed, "they are also supported by the European Parliament, the German media authorities and various other organisations which engage in market economy and consumer protection."
According to FUN, Kirch Pay-TV made a commitment to offer its pay-TV channels on digital platforms other than those requiring the d-box at a European Commission examination into BSkyB's (report) entry into the company as a shareholder. Its subsequent failure to do so has prompted the industry alliance to take court action despite FUN's requests.
FUN states that its aim is to secure the encryption of Premiere World's channels in the system provided by Irdeto access as well as the d-box technology Betacrypt using the simulcrypt method. Then the manufacturers of common interface decoders would "for the first time gain equal opportunities in competition".
FUN adds that although Kirch Group has issued a statement supporting the common interface solution, it has so far failed to stand by its word. As a result, the industry alliance, according to its chairman Lutz Mahnke, "has been forced to initiate forceful steps".
Mahnke believes that "in an open market there is no room for the exclusive coupling of decoder and content that Premiere has so far been practising." He is also of the view that FUN is not alone with this conviction and its request to use open European standards such as the common interface and MHP solutions. Indeed, "they are also supported by the European Parliament, the German media authorities and various other organisations which engage in market economy and consumer protection."
