TiVo Sues AT&T, Verizon for DVR Patent Violations

By Geoff Duncan August 27, 2009

Tivo Image used with permission by copyright holder

DVR pioneer TiVo has been in a long-running dispute with Echostar regarding its core DVR technology…and while the case seemed to be tilting in TiVo’s favor, Echostar recently saw a glimmer of hope in a preliminary ruling that declared the patent invalid. TiVo doesn’t seem to worried about the possibility its patents might be set aside, however: the company has just filed suits against AT&T and Verizon for infringing on three of its DVR technology patents, including the famous “time warp” technology.

As in the Echostar case, TiVo is seeking damages for past infringement and a permanent injunction that would bar the communications companies from offering products that infringe on TiVo’s patents. The suits were filed in the infamously patent-holder-friendly Eastern District of Texas.

“We will continue to pursue enforcement where necessary to stop infringement of our intellectual property,” TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said in a statement. TiVo has apparently been in negotiations with both AT&T and Verizon about licensing the DVR technology, but no agreements have been reached, and TiVo apparently feels it has no alternative but to take the companies to court.

Neither Verizon nor AT&T have publicly commended on the suits.

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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