Microsoft Sues TiVo 112
doperative notes that "TiVo [is accused] of infringing four patents. Microsoft is asking that TiVo be barred from importing the digital-video recorders, which are primarily made in Mexico and sold in the U.S... The four patents in the ITC case relate to program schedules and selection, controlling the interface, and a way to restrict use of the DVR based on the program’s rating."
Poor TiVo (Score:3, Insightful)
Always getting sued by someone.
I wonder how Microsoft can claim the patent when Tivo was first with the DVR capability. Also: Why did microsoft wait almost 15 years to bring this complaint? Why the delay Borgified Bill.
rating? (Score:5, Insightful)
>restrict use of the DVR based on the program’s rating.
Isn't that what the rating was put there FOR? my god, how did they get a patent on that?!!?
Re:Usual bullshit... (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, no clue from someone who has watched MS since the late '80s, when they were still producing Xenix, had hijacked IBM's DOS and called it their own, the DR DOS debacle, the bad treatment of WordPerfect, Novell, et alia, the payoffs to SCO, and now they're suing to help out their customer, AT&T in defense of a lawsuit in which MS has no firsthand involvement. Why did MS stop selling that TV? Could it be that they weren't seeing the customer demand for their own products that other companies like TiVO were? My disdainful comment stands, gents, sorry.
Re:Microsoft Owns the Law (Score:4, Insightful)
Nobody can complain of or sue Microsoft effectively. Microsoft can use the law to bust someone's balls for something.
What about Eolas (don't want to link to a patent troll), which sued Microsoft for auto-activated controls in a web browser and won half a billion dollars? Or i4i which sued them for being able to edit custom XML tags in Office 2007 and won $290 million? Oh, and Sun sued them over Java and won, although that resulted in Java not being installed by default on the dominant platform which I always thought was a terrible outcome for Sun.
I am sure that there are plenty of other examples, but those are the ones that jumped to mind. Most lawsuits end in private settlements so we never know the final figure.
Re:The Complaint and Patents (Score:3, Insightful)
This should be tossed out by the judge before it even begins...
Tivo has been selling boxes since 1999 and has been very public about it.. They are not some Overnight Success that just came out of nowhere.. If they have been infringing this lawsuit should have poped up years ago..
If Tivo added new features that are Infringing then they should be order to roll back or roll out non infringing Firmware.
If they are new granted Patents.. Tivo either has prior art or Tivo never researched enough..
If the Software Patent system isn't going to change there should be arbitration required to settle most cases thats funded by both parties to reduce the load of the Justice system...
The vast majority of patent suits should be able to be settled out of court..