[6] The Ivi TV player is a downloadable software application that runs on Windows, Macintosh, or Linux computers[7][8] that offers live television over the Internet.

[12] A group of four public interest groups; the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Media Access Project, Open Technology Initiative, and Public Knowledge filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Ivi[13] 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".

[14] On February 22, 2011 District Judge Naomi Buchwald granted an injunction, shutting down most of the broadcast stations carried by Ivi.

[15] Ivi and its CEO argued that the company fitted the definition of a "cable system" under section 111(f) of U.S.

[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.