After TiVo’s successful, though lengthy and ongoing, DVR patent infringement case against DISH Network & EchoStar, the company set its litigation sights on AT&T (U-Verse) and Verizon (FiOS TV).
As AT&T neither manufactures their DVR hardware (Motorola, Microsoft) nor their timeshifting software experience (Microsoft), Microsoft has struck back at TiVo twice (here and here) on their behalf. But we hadn’t heard much from Verizon since TiVo’s initial complaint. Until yesterday.
VZ’s FiOS TV DVR experience runs on Motorola… and they dug deep through their patent playbook to mount a counterattack. From the new complaint lodged by Motorola and embedded above:
General Instrument, a subsidiary of Motorola Mobility, owns multiple patents that disclose and claim fundamental inventions related to digital video recorders (“DVRs”), which are now ubiquitous in American households. In light of TiVo’s aggressive litigation history, TiVo’s accusations of infringement against QIP set-top boxes, TiVo’s requests for detailed Motorola technical information related to the accused QIP set-top boxes and Verizon’s indemnification demand, an actual controversy exists between Plaintiffs and TiVo regarding questions of infringement and validity of the TiVo Patents.
Interestingly, Bloomberg reports that Verizon insists Motorola Mobility is on the hook for any and all potential losses in the case. Yet, in the end, I suspect this will all amount to costly and time consuming posturing as the various parties negotiate reciprocal licensing deals or minimize potential licensing fees.
But never mind all that, let’s do the Time Warp again!