Tivo Time Warp Patent is Valid according to PTO

sparc

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Jul 24, 2006
1,721
13
U.S. Patent Office Affirms TiVo 'Time Warp' Patent Is Valid - 2010-10-06 19:36:35 | Multichannel News

not sure if this was posted....
Excerpt:

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday affirmed the validity of TiVo's so-called Time Warp DVR patent, reversing the agency's ruling this summer -- after a second re-examination requested by EchoStar and Dish Network -- that the patent was invalid because some of the claims were covered in two prior patents.
The decision by the PTO is final and cannot be appealed by Dish/EchoStar.
 
Seems the PTO can't make its mind up. Which may make it seem the PTO doesn't have a clue either...

I guess it is time again to crank up the dueling lawyers!! :)
 
The case will drag on through the appeals process some more. Then there will be some sort of settlement. With this decision, it looks like the amount of the settlement is now going to be more in TiVo's favor.

If forced to Dish will license the technology before turning off DVRs, they know DVRs being turned off will be fatal their business plan. TiVo will grant the license since they need to set a standard to force all the others to fall in line and pay up. It is still possible for the courts to find in Dish's favor that the newly designed software no longer infringes. Either way TiVo will be able to go after the others.
 
YEAH!!!

It would be interesting to see E loose big and required to shut down all their DVRs

TIVO ROCKS
Tivo does rock, but not one Dish Network DVR will be affected. However, I expect Tivo's CEO is out buying a new pair of slacks with extra huge pockets to stuff another $500 million of EchoStar's cash...with cargo pockets for future payments.

Unfortunately, Dish Network customers and EchoStar investors will suffer...
 
There is still a big question: do any DISH Network DVRs still infringe.

It seems like the original trial covered units up to a point in time and DISH paid a hefty price. I'm not convinced that TiVo's insistence that some (or all) models still infringe is based in reality.
 
I don't think so

There is still a big question: do any DISH Network DVRs still infringe.

It seems like the original trial covered units up to a point in time and DISH paid a hefty price. I'm not convinced that TiVo's insistence that some (or all) models still infringe is based in reality.

Pretty sure that all units have been pulled out of service and replaced.
 
There is still a big question: do any DISH Network DVRs still infringe.

It seems like the original trial covered units up to a point in time and DISH paid a hefty price. I'm not convinced that TiVo's insistence that some (or all) models still infringe is based in reality.

Well the court said they did. It was upheld by a 3 judge appeals panel, but one of the 3 judges did not agree. So, now the full court of appeals will be deciding if there is still infringement. I doubt again that the Supreme Court will get involved. But, if the full appeals court finds fault with the lower court ruling it would go back down get redone and then appealed again. It could still be years before it is resolved.
 
There is still a big question: do any DISH Network DVRs still infringe.

It seems like the original trial covered units up to a point in time and DISH paid a hefty price. I'm not convinced that TiVo's insistence that some (or all) models still infringe is based in reality.
If they do then it's game, set and match - and Susan Boyle sings. If not, then I suspect Tivo will file a suit against DISH claiming their DVRs (to include the VIP series) infringe their "Season Pass" patent awarded earlier this year after a 10-year PTO review. The bottom line: EchoStar/DISH is going to pay Tivo licensing fees for each and every DVR (to inlcude the 922) one way or another.
 
harshness said:
There is still a big question: do any DISH Network DVRs still infringe.
That was answered in 2008, when it was decided those units still infringe.
whatchel1 said:
Pretty sure that all units have been pulled out of service and replaced.
I know the 721, 921 and 942 were replaced, so that's three down.

I'm not as certain of the 501, 508 and 510, but I thought those were being replaced.

That left the 522 and 625. I know the 625 is still active.

If the re-exam didn't change anything, then the other units will be back in play the moment if or when TiVo receives a positive ruling from the Court of Appeals.
 
Greg - So the VIP series (622,722, 922) does not infringe and therefore are not impacted by this brew-ha? Sorry, I've not been really following this very closely...
 
The ViP series boxes were not named (and presumably not examined) as part of the suit. TiVo tried at least once to get the suit extended to cover them but I believe they were denied.
 
Not greg but they weren't included in the suit so would have to be brought up in a new suit to see.
Not necessarily. The VIP Series can be enjoined into the current lawsuit since they are merely "colorably different" (as claimed by Tivo) than the original infringing models. It doesn't mean this will happen...just that Tivo hasn't gotten around to asking the court yet.
 
Not necessarily. The VIP Series can be enjoined into the current lawsuit since they are merely "colorably different" (as claimed by Tivo) than the original infringing models. It doesn't mean this will happen...just that Tivo hasn't gotten around to asking the court yet.

I think harshness is correct on this and that they can't be added at this point anymore.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)