Aereo sues CBS

New York webcaster Aereo is pre-emptively suing CBS after the latter said it would use the courts to stop the online television venture from launching around the US.

The controversial video-streaming service has asked a Manhattan court to rule that its technology doesn’t break copyright law and also to prevent CBS from suing it if it expands into new markets. Aereo plans to launch in Boston to pre-registered users on May 15, allowing them to stream local affiliate stations over the internet.

CBS has previously accused Aereo of “stealing” the company’s signal, while CBS president Leslie Moonves recently said CBS would take its case against Aereo to Congress if its complaint wasn’t held up in court.

CBS is also part of a group of US networks that attempted to sue Aereo for copyright infringement last year, a case that was later rejected by a court.