TIVO SUES SONICBLUE FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
TiVo fired back at rival Sonicblue, filing patent infringement suit alleging latter’s ReplayTV personal video recorder (PVR) violated broad patent it received last May. TiVo, which filed patent application in 1998, was granted coverage for method for simultaneous playback and recording of TV programs. Patent had 56 claims with others relating to methods of processing various multimedia streams such as audio and video at low cost and storage format that allows user to pause and scan through live TV broadcast. TiVo filed suit in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco, in Jan.
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At time TiVo received patent, it appeared to have greatest implications for Microsoft’s UltimateTV product, which also had dual tuner that allowed for simultaneous playback and recording. But Microsoft since has folded UltimateTV group into its TV division, and Sonicblue has made major push with ReplayTV, which it acquired last year. Sonicblue sued TiVo for infringement in Dec., alleging that it had violated patent covering PVR with integrated program guide that allowed user to record and store TV signals as “personal channels”. While ReplayTV has largely focused on high end of PVR market since being acquired by Sonicblue, it said last week it was weighing introduction of sub- $200 device.
Sonicblue Chmn. Kenneth Potashner said TiVo’s suit was “unwarranted” and was filed in response to its legal action in Dec. “We believe we do not infringe the patent named in TiVo’s suit,” he said. TiVo also received patent in Dec. for TrickPlay technology that involves method for controlling streaming media in digital device, such as ability to pause live TV and perform other disc transport functions. Storing, editing and manipulating video are among 64 claims in patent.