My favourite iPhone app TVCatchup has been dealt a legal blow. The top European Court has, ruled that UK-based website TVCatchup cannot transmit live TV streams online without the permission of broadcasters.

In a case brought against the site (and dozens of others) by ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, the European Court of Justice ruled that as “authors” of the content, they have the right to forbid its use elsewhere.

TVCatchup had argued that licenses granted to the channels by Ofcom also covered “subsidiary services” such as its own and claimed it was not breaking copyright law by re-transmitting free-to-air broadcasts.

In a statement, on behalf of all three broadcasters, ITV said it was now free to pursue legal action against unauthorised sites that sought to broadcast its content.

Like any legal case its never over, and TVCatchup director Bruce Pilley insisted that the service was operating within the law and claimed the ECJ’s ruling would only affect around 30 per cent of its 12 million members and that TVCatchup.com is here to stay. Big words but I’m not sure it will work for them.

Update – TV Catchup responded directly to me via twitter. See here.