Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

GoReds · 08-21-2006, 01:50 PM

Appeals court blocks order to shut down Dish DVRs

Updated 8/20/2006 6:25 PM ET
Early Friday, a federal judge ordered that Dish digital video recorders, like the one above, must be shut down within 30 days.That decision has since been blocked by a federal appeals court.

EchoStar, parent of the Dish Network satellite TV service, on Friday said a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a lower-court order that would have forced EchoStar to turn off about 4 million of its digital video recorders within 30 days.

Earlier Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas granted a motion by TiVo for the DVR shutdown and ordered EchoStar to pay $89.6 million in damages.

The decision comes after a federal jury in April determined that EchoStar willfully infringed on TiVo's "time-warp" patent, which applies to the way a DVR simultaneously records one program while playing back another.

"We continue to believe the Texas decision was wrong, and should be reversed on appeal," EchoStar said in a statement. The Englewood, Colo., company also said it is working on modifications to its new DVRs so that they won't infringe on TiVo's patent.

EchoStar is the country's second-largest satellite TV provider with about 12.5 million subscribers.

TiVo, the Alviso, Calif., company that is credited with introducing DVR technology, said it was "pleased" with the injunction.

"This decision recognizes that our intellectual property is valuable and will ensure that moving forward EchoStar will be unable to use our patented technology without our authorization," the company said in a prepared statement.

Because EchoStar's infringement of TiVo's patent was seen as "willful," the judge could have tripled the amount of damages, but chose not to. TiVo is pondering whether to appeal that part of the decision, said TiVo spokesman Elliot Sloane.

EchoStar shares fell 70 cents, or 2.1%, to $32.05 in midday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. TiVo shares jumped 41 cents, or 6.3%, to $6.90.
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How does the highlighted paragraph make sense? If Echostar feels that they did nothing wrong, then why are they working on modifications to get around the Tivo patent?

cumberlandreds · 08-21-2006, 01:54 PM

I think Echostar, in the end, will buy out TIVO. At only $6.90 a share it shouldn't be a problem for them to do that. But to answer your question it does sound like Echostar is admitting that they stole at least part of TIVO's technology in order to produce a DVR.

Hap · 08-21-2006, 06:26 PM

millionaires suing millionaires.....we'll all pay for it out of our pockets, no matter what the final decision is....

LoganBuck · 08-21-2006, 09:27 PM

I have a DVR how does this affect me?

cumberlandreds · 08-22-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoganBuck

I have a DVR how does this affect me?

No affect right now. Just stayed tuned to these court orders. IMO, DISH will either settle with or buy out TIVO in the end. It's a lawyers game right now and they are all getting rich from this.

Unassisted · 08-22-2006, 10:07 AM

I've long thought that Echostar and Charlie Ergen are kind of shady. I'm also a big believer in standalone DVRs, so I'd like to see Tivo prevail here.

08-21-2006, 01:50 PM	#1
GoReds Cruisin' for trouble Join Date: May 2000 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 3,287	Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement Appeals court blocks order to shut down Dish DVRs Updated 8/20/2006 6:25 PM ET Early Friday, a federal judge ordered that Dish digital video recorders, like the one above, must be shut down within 30 days.That decision has since been blocked by a federal appeals court. EchoStar, parent of the Dish Network satellite TV service, on Friday said a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a lower-court order that would have forced EchoStar to turn off about 4 million of its digital video recorders within 30 days. Earlier Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas granted a motion by TiVo for the DVR shutdown and ordered EchoStar to pay $89.6 million in damages. The decision comes after a federal jury in April determined that EchoStar willfully infringed on TiVo's "time-warp" patent, which applies to the way a DVR simultaneously records one program while playing back another. "We continue to believe the Texas decision was wrong, and should be reversed on appeal," EchoStar said in a statement. The Englewood, Colo., company also said it is working on modifications to its new DVRs so that they won't infringe on TiVo's patent. EchoStar is the country's second-largest satellite TV provider with about 12.5 million subscribers. TiVo, the Alviso, Calif., company that is credited with introducing DVR technology, said it was "pleased" with the injunction. "This decision recognizes that our intellectual property is valuable and will ensure that moving forward EchoStar will be unable to use our patented technology without our authorization," the company said in a prepared statement. Because EchoStar's infringement of TiVo's patent was seen as "willful," the judge could have tripled the amount of damages, but chose not to. TiVo is pondering whether to appeal that part of the decision, said TiVo spokesman Elliot Sloane. EchoStar shares fell 70 cents, or 2.1%, to $32.05 in midday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. TiVo shares jumped 41 cents, or 6.3%, to $6.90. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How does the highlighted paragraph make sense? If Echostar feels that they did nothing wrong, then why are they working on modifications to get around the Tivo patent?

08-21-2006, 01:54 PM	#2
cumberlandreds Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sterling VA Posts: 7,847	Re: Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement I think Echostar, in the end, will buy out TIVO. At only $6.90 a share it shouldn't be a problem for them to do that. But to answer your question it does sound like Echostar is admitting that they stole at least part of TIVO's technology in order to produce a DVR. __________________ Reds Fan Since 1971

08-21-2006, 06:26 PM	#3
Hap Plays The Right Way Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 796.357 Posts: 1,676	Re: Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement millionaires suing millionaires.....we'll all pay for it out of our pockets, no matter what the final decision is.... __________________ .

08-21-2006, 09:27 PM	#4
LoganBuck I hate the Cubs Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 5,584	Re: Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement I have a DVR how does this affect me? __________________ Whenever you get mad over a called strike or ball on a close pitch, it's the equivalent of being mad at the QB pump-faking one time before throwing a pass in your average NFL game. ---Caveat Emperor

08-22-2006, 10:07 AM	#6
Unassisted RZ Chamber of Commerce Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 13,223	Re: Appeals court blocks Tivo judgement I've long thought that Echostar and Charlie Ergen are kind of shady. I'm also a big believer in standalone DVRs, so I'd like to see Tivo prevail here.

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