DISH Ordered to Pay US$200M to TiVo But Not Found Wilful

DISH Network LLC has been found in contempt of court and ordered to pay TiVo nearly US$200M for breaching a permanent injunction not to sell DVR technology that infringes TiVo’s patent. The ongoing patent dispute started in 2004 when TiVo sued EchoStar Corporation, a predecessor to DISH Network. Earlier in June, TiVo had obtained an additional $103M award.

TiVo had asked for US$1B in wilful damages and sanctions and claimed it was due all of DISH Network’s DVR profits for the more than five year period of the dispute. DISH Network and EchoStar maintained that engineers updated the DVR software to avoid the patent. While the U.S. District Court in Texas disagreed and the attempt to avoid the patent was unsuccessful, the court concluded that it was made in good faith and not liable to wilful infringement penalties. Both parties are claiming a victory.

For additional information, visit:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10345910-93.html

http://tivo.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=406

http://dish.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=407240

Volume VII

DISH Ordered to Pay US$200M to TiVo But Not Found Wilful