Judge Rejects Counterclaims in Dish Network Copyright Complaint

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich of Tampa threw out three counterclaims brought by UlaiTV and PlanetiTV against Dish Network, which is suing them for copyright infringement. In an order (in Pacer) Friday, the court said defendants Tele-Center and Planet Telecom -- allegedly behind the UlaiTV set-tops and accompanying UlaiTV and AlhaiTV streaming services -- failed to prove counterclaims of conversion, trespass and breach of contract by Dish, granting them 14 days to re-plead. Dish's 2016 complaint said defendants, via UlaiTV and AlhaiTV, retransmitted channels to which Dish had exclusive license. Francis Lakel, counsel for the defendants, emailed Monday they would resubmit at least the breach of contract and conversion counterclaims, and said he's researching the argument given for denying the trespass counterclaim.