Then DISH reverse engineered one of their devices (that TiVo loaned them) and looked at the source code; afterward, DISH decided they didn't need TiVo and could develop their own in-house DVR. So given those details, to me it sure seems that DISH stole TiVo's intellectual property -- and courts seem to agree.
Given what details? Sounds to me you fabricated a piece of fascinating imaginative fiction of an industrial espionage story for Hollywood. Were you working for Dish at the time and have knowledge of this theft?
You said-
They only reason they had the device in the first place was because DISH made it appear they wanted to partner -- but instead they pilfered.
Pretty strong accusation, where's your proof?
Show me the evidence, the proof, the theft record... else
I consider your claims complete fictional fabrication, even if you did read them on the internet, doesn't make a story they pilfered the device during a demo true.
I think Greg has it right, developing your own code from a hardware collection is as easy as reading the tech sheets.
Ever heard of Avid? FAST VM DVR? Matrox? Probably not. All three of these companies had DVR devices beginning in the late 80's and throughout the mid 90's. LOOOOONg before Replay too. The DVR was never an invention of TIVO, nor Replay. It was being used for TV editing long before TIVO was even a company. This is why I hold very little respect for their so called IP. Fact is they, like I said, TIVO has those patents NOT because it was their IP but because the USPO is basically broke and TIVO got lucky in their fooling them. TIVO invented nothing new. They created a cute graphical user interface to operate a technology invented long before. I give them that but not the IP of the system.