TiVo sues EchoStar over DVR patent

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TiVo sues EchoStar over DVR patent

I knew the day would eventually come when TiVo would exercise the patents it got a few years ago (thanks michael for tracking them down), but I thought we were still a few years away from that, and it would likely only be a last resort when they lost all marketshare.

According to c|net news, today TiVo sued EchoStar over the patent on recording a show while watching another (but isn't that already possible with a VCR?). TiVo has over 40 patents and I'm sure some are quite novel (wishlists) while others seem a bit more obvious.

It will be interesting to see how Comcast, Time Warner, and the other gaggle of companies releasing DVR clones reacts to this suit.

by Matt Haughey January 5, 2004 in News

Comments

desperation? hardly- you think it is a coincidence that they sued DISH- the newly robert murdoch owned Direct tv rival ? not at all- it makes perfect sense- this is murdoch smacking dish down- and why would a company be desperate to protect their IT ? was Qualcomm desperate ? it is called smart business- Tivo waited until after a market was created and only then did they make a move

Posted by: kevin at Jan 5, 2004 7:43:39 PM

TiVo sued ReplayTV a couple of years ago. And ReplyTV sued TiVo. Both suits were over patents each held that the other was using. The suits were settled out of court in a patent swap. So this isn't the first time TiVo has moved to protect their IP.

I don't see it as desperation. You don't let someone use your IP to compete with you without compensation. Especially since TiVo is basing a large part of their business on licensing. If anyone is free to copy them without repercussions, why bother licensing from them in the first place? And if you were someone who already licensed from them, wouldn't you be a bit ticked if they were letting other people do it for free?

Posted by: MegaZone at Jan 6, 2004 9:13:48 AM

Why don't you people get over it in a land of free enterprise and opportunity people should be free to do as they choose. dish Network has been installing these dvr's for over 2 years and it's an issue that's like saying dish network should not be able to use their equipment that they produce and install with their own techs who are not affilated with direct tv in any way shape or form
WOULD IT BE FAIR FOR THE MAN WHO INVENTED THE VCR TO SUE TIVO FOR STEALING HIS IDEA!!!! THINK ABOUT IT

Posted by: JOSH at Aug 22, 2006 3:31:38 PM

We just upgraded our Direct TV to HD but we lost our TIVO. I miss it so much. Will I ever get it back?

Posted by: Douglas at Oct 10, 2007 5:03:12 PM

Good comments about EchoStar over DVR patent. More about EchoStar and Dish Network can be found at

http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Direct-TV.html
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Dish-Network.html

Posted by: Lawrence at May 26, 2008 12:55:17 PM