frwtv 223 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Hello fellow Red Wings fans. Before the 2011-2012 NHL season started, I decided to register the domain freeredwings.tv and operate a site providing live streams of Detroit Red Wings games. Yesterday, I received a cease and desist email from an NHL attorney ordering me to stop any and all unauthorized streaming of NHL copyrighted works. With the recent arrest of a Comstock Park, MI man for copyright infringement, I have made the difficult and unfortunate decision to stop streaming NHL games. I am expecting my first child in August and I cannot get arrested, especially over something like this. I would like to thank the letsgowings community for always linking to the site in the GDT and being grateful and appreciative fans. I hope you enjoyed what I was able to provide. I would have loved to continue providing the service, but you can thank the NHL for ruining the party. 57 RedWingsRox, wingslogo19, troubadour and 54 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WizardOfOz30 1,886 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Sorry that happened to you. I know many people really appreciated you streaming the games but of course you don't need to deal with legal problems. Good luck with your new little one! 6 Wings_Rule_1010, YMHC, ace76 and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 I'm sorry to hear about this. I've been very thankful of your site ever since I started experiencing problems with drumnj's stream. There's no way for me to be able to afford the channels needed for watching NHL here. Thank you for everything. It was great while it lasted. 3 Rick, Cloune and HadThomasVokounOnFortSt reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) Yeah thank you so much for always streaming the games. So much appreciated. Also good luck on the new little one too. Unfortunately since I'm pretty broke I can't afford to buy nhl center ice or anything else. I blame Bettman not for being broke but for this BS. Regardless thanks again for all your hard work I will be missing your streams. Edited February 20, 2012 by St. Michael (the Red Wing) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gizmo 21 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) I would have loved to continue providing the service, but you can thank the NHL for ruining the party. While I confess to having watched a streamed game or two after losing the battle for control of the family TV, I don't "blame" the NHL for anything in the C&D letter. Let's not kid ourselves, unauthorized streaming of copyrighted programming is blatantly illegal. It doesn't matter if it's "for profit" or done as a service for fellow fans. I'm sorry that you no doubt had the daylights scared out of you when you opened the letter, but could you really not see this coming? You registered a domain that screams "Hey, free illegal streaming of Red Wings games over here!!!!" I mean, dude......! It's also not a Crosby-lovin'-Bettman thing. Show me one major sporting body that doesn't defend their broadcasts in such a manner. Edited February 20, 2012 by Gizmo 9 haroldsnepsts, Mead, Frozen-Man and 6 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kindl Surprise 47 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for the streams! They were such great quality... looks like it's back to listening to the radio feed......... 2 Cloune and YMHC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travis 576 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 As a Wings fan without any sort of cable access, I always appreciated being able to tune into your games. Even yesterday, with NBC streaming the games online - I still went to freeredwings to watch. Thank you for your service and best of luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoe 165 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for the feed man, I got to see a lot more Red Wings Hockey this year than other years because of you. Your feed was good quality reliable and I didnt have to search through a whole bunch of links before every game. 3 puckloo39, Cloune and YMHC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lookalive07 251 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for being able to do it for at least a while. Because of your streams, I was able to watch a couple of games I couldn't otherwise, and that includes the game against Anaheim recently with the crazy OT and the SO win. Good luck to you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckloo39 5,686 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thank you for your stream and all the good fun, FRW, and good luck and happiness with your new little one. We far-flung fans really enjoyed watching with you. We appreciated your efforts, believe me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeff48109 474 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks man. and all the best with the little one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightfall 871 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 While I confess to having watched a streamed game or two after losing the battle for control of the family TV, I don't "blame" the NHL for anything in the C&D letter. Let's not kid ourselves, unauthorized streaming of copyrighted programming is blatantly illegal. It doesn't matter if it's "for profit" or done as a service for fellow fans. I'm sorry that you no doubt had the daylights scared out of you when you opened the letter, but could you really not see this coming? You registered a domain that screams "Hey, free illegal streaming of Red Wings games over here!!!!" I mean, dude......! It's also not a Crosby-lovin'-Bettman thing. Show me one major sporting body that doesn't defend their broadcasts in such a manner. I don't know why you got hit with a lot of negative reviews for something that is just so obvious. I for one also thank the OP for his efforts. At the same time, I have to agree with you. This kind of thing wasn't going to last forever. The NHL is a big business, and every major sport out there is looking to squash these free streaming sites. Its a shame when it happens, because all they are doing is making this content available to those of us who don't have cable TV or don't have access to the game. At the same time, we shouldn't be surprised. Thanks again for your efforts! It was good while it lasted. 2 T-Ruff and Matt reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xtrememachine1 795 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Damn! I knew it was too good to be true. Ah well... thank you very much for streaming the games. Red Wings nation appreciated it. Good luck with the little one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danielsm 244 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Such a shame, it's the only way I can watch the games (I live on university residence) and the NHL streams are ******* terrible compared to yours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hack & Whack Rule! 160 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 I was good while it lasted. Thanks for running it as long as you did. Maybe someone should start up a freepenguins.tv site and only show Wings games...it would probably go unnoticed, and maybe even receive funding from the NHL. 4 DatsyukianDangles122, Nev, Kindl Surprise and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick 42 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) I don't know why you got hit with a lot of negative reviews for something that is just so obvious. I for one also thank the OP for his efforts. At the same time, I have to agree with you. This kind of thing wasn't going to last forever. The NHL is a big business, and every major sport out there is looking to squash these free streaming sites. Its a shame when it happens, because all they are doing is making this content available to those of us who don't have cable TV or don't have access to the game. At the same time, we shouldn't be surprised. Thanks again for your efforts! It was good while it lasted. It probably happened because it's so obvious it didn't need to be mentioned. OP isn't naive I'm sure. No need for "Duh, what did you expect" (paraphrase)or other remarks. thanking him for his time and efforts was really all that needed to be said. Edited February 20, 2012 by Rick 11 Heroes of Hockeytown, P. Marlowe, Detroit \# 1 Fan and 8 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drumnj 459 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 uh oh Very unfortunate to hear that. Definitely scary, but I guess somewhat expected. I have to commend you for your work. Even though you were kind of a competitor, though it didn't bother me, you put in the effort for your viewers. Having 2 streams is quite the commitment and you didn't have it be all about making money. The days of online streams are slowly dying with all the legal focus and it being a big topic in legislation. 5 years ago it was hardly known, really shows how the internet can provoke the ways companies and governments do business. Well good luck to you man, hopefully we'll see you around the forum taking part of the fun filled Wings discussions. 3 shoe, T-Ruff and 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Wow I wish I knew this site existed damn it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightfall 871 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 It probably happened because it's so obvious it didn't need to be mentioned. OP isn't naive I'm sure. No need for "Duh, what did you expect" (paraphrase)or other remarks. thanking him for his time and efforts was really all that needed to be said. I can agree to that. On the same token, bitching about the NHL solves nothing either. A simple thank you, as you said, is really all that is required. 2 Rick and T-Ruff reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guif_br 1 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 that's a shame, i've been watching every wings games here in brazil yesterday's win against the sharks was my last one best of luck for you and your little child 1 Green Wing reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gizmo 21 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) It probably happened because it's so obvious it didn't need to be mentioned. OP isn't naive I'm sure. No need for "Duh, what did you expect" (paraphrase)or other remarks. thanking him for his time and efforts was really all that needed to be said. My response was aimed solely at the "blaming" comment. It's one thing to set up such a site, but another to then complain when the copyright owner steps in and exercises their legal rights. Yes, it's a bummer that it's gone, but its days were numbered from Day 1, and the URL might have accelerated things a bit. Edited February 20, 2012 by Gizmo 1 T-Ruff reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hillbillywingsfan 794 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 My response was aimed solely at the "blaming" comment. It's one thing to set up such a site, but another to then complain when the copyright owner steps in and exercises their legal rights. I really didn't see him as complaining. I think it was more of just letting people know why it wasn't there anymore and to thank people for using it. But that's just how I read it. 4 Namingway, Danielsm, P. Marlowe and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick 42 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 My response was aimed solely at the "blaming" comment. It's one thing to set up such a site, but another to then complain when the copyright owner steps in and exercises their legal rights. Yes, it's a bummer that it's gone, but its days were numbered from Day 1, and the URL might have accelerated things a bit. read it again perhaps? I know people get instantly defensive when it comes to an issue like this and love to argue their side and lecture other adults about morels, right/wrong but if you look at his last sentence he isn't blaming the nhl. he simply states he would love to continue to provide this service but the party's been ruined. I'm just saying he is already being forced to close his site; chastising the dude like he is ignorant of the law comes off as a little insulting. 2 P. Marlowe and Jasper84 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thank you for all your work. Easily, you are the LGW "Rookie of the Year". All the best. 3 Travis, Namingway and Hack & Whack Rule! reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for all the fun whilst it lasted, it was always a really stable, smooth stream. Alas the NHL didn't see fit to do a TV deal with my country this season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
