It looks like MobiTV is trying to shut down HowardForums.com. MobiTV has been sending threatening letters to Howard requesting for posts to be taken down from his site. The posts describe a way to access video feeds from the MobiTV service for free by simply going to a URL. The URL enables access to the service from a computer or a mobile phone.

MobiTV is claiming that the posts obtained the URL through hacking or debugging. It is Howard’s claim that no hacking or debugging was used because the file listing the URL is available on their website for anyone to read. The exchange between Howard and representatives at MobiTV is available on the HowardForums.com website.

Of course, you might want to go there soon. MobiTV has bumped up their threats by issuing a cease and decease, asking Howard to remove the posts. They have also contacted Global Net Access who hosts the website to have the HoFo removed since it contains MobiTV intellectual property.

Read more at HowardForums.com.

Brian’s Opinion

I think Howard has a valid fight. I’m not sure how a URL is intellectual property when it is accessible by anyone with a computer, especially through an unprotected file. If their IT department was as aggressive with security as their legal department is at shutting down Howard’s website then it seems their legal team wouldn’t be as busy. Honestly, the legal team has now made the problem worse because more people are going to know about this URL and the true problem which is MobiTV has poor security. There is no such thing as security through obscurity.

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