TiVo takes on EchoStar
p2p news / p2pnet: Some industry observers put TiVo’s chance of victory in a court fight that started today as high as 70%.
It’s suing EchoStar for a key patent that makes digital video recorders work and a, "TiVo win, "would not only resurrect the fledgling company but also encourage a shift in DVR strategies at the major pay TV providers," says Reuters, going on:.
"Possibly more important for TiVo, a ruling instantly would strengthen its hand in negotiating what have been very elusive licensing deals with cable TV companies that have been selling their own less-expensive DVRs and cutting TiVo out of the loop."
TiVo is suing EchoStar, the parent of the Dish satellite TV service, "claiming it stole TiVo’s technology that allows users to digitally record one show while watching another," says the story, going on:
"TiVo attorney Morgan Chu has been arguing in court that TiVo’s inability to turn a profit, despite the popularity of its product, is partially because of EchoStar’s infringing on its patent. TiVo co-founder Tivo co-founder Michael Ramsay said he showed EchoStar the TiVo product and pursued a licensing deal with them, "but that a deal was never struck even though EchoStar began selling its own DVRs that used technology very similar to TiVo’s," says Reuters.
TiVo co-founder Jim Barton said he left a TiVo prototype with EchoStar and that he doesn’t recall ever seeing it again.
"DVRs allow users to pause and rewind live TV, skip commercials and organize dozens of hours of TV shows recorded onto a set-top box hard drive," says the story. "That just about every cable and satellite TV provider has been pushing their own versions of a DVR, mostly without TiVo’s participation, makes the outcome of the Texas trial critical for TiVo."
(Thanks, Lennart)
Also See:
Reuters – TiVo’s future may hinge on EchoStar patent case, April 4, 2006
April 6th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Fuck both of them. You can make your own fake Tivo & not have to pay them a montly fee (or their non-transferable lifetime fee) for TV listings. Many sites on the net tell you how.
Stop sucking corporate balls folks.
You’ll feel better & your breath’ll be much fresher!!!!!!!!!
April 7th, 2006 at 4:40 am
My…. such strong language from such a loser. Does your mommy know that you are playing on the computer?? I hear her footsteps now…. so go to bed L’lte Jimmy!