TiVo Inc. launched one of the first digital video recorder (DVR) devices in 1999. However TiVo has been facing competition from AT&T and Verizon, who provide DVR as a service through TV cable. This is why TiVo has filed a lawsuit against both telecommunication companies at the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas.
TiVo is seeking damages and a permanent injunction from using the feature. This complaint the same as the one made in a lawsuit against DISH/Echostar. That complaint was made in 2004. Initially TiVo was ruled to be awarded $105 million, but DISH/Echostar filed an appeal. While the appeal was being made, DISH/Echostar designed new software that would replace the old video recording software.
TiVo claimed that DISH/Echostar was still infringing on their patent, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office dismissed a request from TiVo to have DISH/Echostar no longer have the ability to re-examine its patent. DISH will be using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office dismissal as part of their appeal in court.
DISH has about 14 million subscribers while AT&T U-Verse and Verizon FIOS cable services have a combined subscriber base of 4 million.
TiVo Inc. has been awarded $190 million in damages for a patent lawsuit against DISH Network Corporation and EchoStar Corporation. U.S. District Judge David Folsom also told EchoStar that they are not allowed to infringe on all except around 193,000 digital video recorders for all of their subscribers.
EchoStar was told to pay $73.9 million along with $15.7 million in interest. On top of those amounts, EchoStar must also pay $103.1 million in damages plust interest accrued.
DISH and EchoStar plan to file an appeal with the court decision. DISH used to be known as EchoStar Communications Corporation before they spun off their technology assets about a year ago including the set-top box units. EchoStar Corp. was the result of the spin-off.
Blockbuster announced earlier this week that they have partnered with TiVo to make Blockbuster’s OnDemand service available through TiVo. In return, Blockbuster will promote TiVo DVRs at their retail stores. Blockbuster OnDemand will be available on TiVo’s Series3, TiVo HD, and TiVO HD XL boxes.
“We are excited to be teaming with TiVo, the company that created the DVR, to make Blockbuster’s entertainment content readily available to their millions of subscribers,” stated Blockbuster Chairman and CEO Jim Keyes. “Ultimately, our vision is to work with TiVo so that their subscribers can access movies not only through our OnDemand service but also from our stores and through our by-mail service as well. Regardless of a film’s availability – through VOD or on DVD – we want to work with TiVo to provide their subscribers unprecedented access to movie content.”
