Do you remember TiVo? Are you old enough to even remember? Back in 1998 Jim Barton and Mike Ramsay wanted to be able to create a home networking system, but it was actually turned into a system that records digitised video onto a hard disk. What we know as a typical DVR system, was born from that idea back in 1998.
Quick History Lesson
I actually thought that TiVo was dead. You hadn’t heard much about the company in recent years and so many companies were offering up the same services with any cable package deal. Typically, TiVo was offered with a subscription service that lasted for the lifetime of the DVR system. I think at the time the cost was around $300 for that, but I may be incorrect on that number.
Purpose of Flashback
The reason that I bring this up is that TiVo just won a huge lawsuit against a company we know a bit better as Dish Network. It
was a patent dispute and TiVo claimed that in 2004 Dish Network was making DVR’s that infringed on TiVo patents. The trial went to US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and they ruled Dish Network did NOT comply with orders to alter the software so that it was not infringing with TiVo patents.
Actual News
When all is said and done, TiVo is looking for over $300 million from Dish Network and it’s parent company, EchoStar Corp. The original lawsuit was for a total of 41 billion in damages, but that court had made their own ruling for the amount of $300 million. TiVo had also sued AT&T and Verizon Communications for the same thing. Because of the ruling today, TiVo shares rocketed up 62%, or $6.32 a share.
My 2 Cents
There are plenty of DVR systems on the market, it does not surprise me that the first device ever made would have patents in place and ready to be infringed upon. All I know is that I hope my Dish Network satellite bill does NOT go up because of all this!
