Court questions broadcast flag challengers

The Washington D.C. Court of Appeals is asking a coalition of library and consumer groups for proof they can legally challenge antipiracy technology imposed by the Federal Communications Commission.

The American Library Association, Public Knowledge and others are challenging the FCC's broadcast flag ruling, which would require consumer electronics devices to support code that can block Internet transfers of some video content. Judges said Tuesday that they weren't sure the consumer and library groups had legal "standing"--a measure of how directly affected they or their members will be by the FCC's ruling. The court asked the groups to explain their position further before proceeding with the case.