TiVo Files New Patent Lawsuits Against Comcast

TiVo has filed new patent lawsuits against Comcast Corporation, alleging that the X1 platform infringes technology invented and patented by Rovi.

The patent allegations involve the pausing and resuming shows on different devices, restarting live programming in progress, advanced DVR recording features, and advanced search and voice functionality. The patents involved in the new complaints represent a very small component of Rovi’s worldwide patent portfolio.

In addition to the new filings, Rovi plans to file an additional legal action with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding the same patents and will be seeking an exclusion order preventing infringing X1 set-top boxes from continuing to be imported into the U.S.

“Through decades-long investment in research and development, Rovi has created innovations that delight consumers in their day-to-day entertainment experience,” said Enrique Rodriguez, the president and CEO of TiVo. “Our commitment to our customers and stockholders compels us to protect these valuable inventions from unlicensed use. Hundreds of media and entertainment leaders around the world recognize the value of our innovations by selecting our products and services and licensing our intellectual property. Our goal is for Comcast to renew its long-standing license so it can continue providing its customers the many popular features Rovi invented.”

Comcast has responded with: “Comcast engineers independently created our X1 products and services, and through its litigation campaign against Comcast, Rovi seeks to charge Comcast and its customers for technology Rovi didn’t create. Rovi’s attempt to extract these unfounded payments for its aging and increasingly obsolete patent portfolio has failed to date.  And as we have in their other suits, we will continue to aggressively defend ourselves.”