AEREO loses

[smackababy]

OK, let me get this straight:
1. I broadcast a signal, in the clear, in all directions, explicitly for the purpose of being seen by potential viewers.
2. You live in the service area for that signal.
3A. You get the signal well. You can hook up your own local tuner and DVR, and are, "not stealing."
3B. You get the signal poorly. If you pay for what amounts to a repeater, you would be, "stealing," freely broadcast content, which was broadcast for the purpose of your watching it.

I get the SC's ruling (not necessarily agree, but it does make sense, and is quite specific), but you're just full of it. Is paying a delivery service stealing, as well?

The problem is you're conflating broadcasting without charging with giving away the rights to content.

If you broadcast content, you still retain the ownership of said content. People cannot rebroadcast it to the public without your permission. If I set up an antenna to capture that signal myself, I can make a copy for personal use. If I set up an antenna to capture and then rebroadcast that signal, I am breaking the law.